Hydro-Diplomacy

Hydro diplomacy is about managing shared river basins that combine water management with diplomatic strategies. Water is a complex resource intertwined with various aspects of life, including livelihoods, food security, and cultural identity. Diplomacy involves more than just negotiations between countries and is influenced by factors like national sovereignty, interests, identity, and power. This chapter evaluates the role of hydro diplomacy in South Asia, focusing on how competition for water resources shapes regional politics. In this chapter, I analyse the significance of hydro diplomacy and the scope for South Asian regional cooperation by taking the case studies that include India–Bangladesh, India–Nepal, and India–Bhutan bilateral frameworks to understand how SAARC and BIMSTEC failed in hydro diplomacy in the region. I have taken China and Pakistan also, which exert influence in the South Asian hydro diplomacy with their bilateral relations with the BBIN countries. While numerous studies examine Track 1 diplomacy in the context of traditional security challenges, there is a noticeable lack of critical perspectives analysing hydro-diplomacy in South Asia. This chapter proposes a multifaceted approach to water management, considering social, political, environmental, cultural, and psychological factors. The chapter aims to contribute to finding solutions for sustainable water management in South Asia.