Pakistan, June 17 -- Water has often been described as the lifeblood of civilisations, and as trying to destroy humanity. But in South Asia, it is increasingly becoming a source of political tension and strategic rivalry. India is a definite example of this practice. For Pakistan, a country whose agriculture, food security, and economic stability depend heavily on the Indus River system, recent developments upstream are being watched with growing concern.

Water in South Asia is no longer just a shared natural resource; it is becoming a strategic pressure point. For Pakistan, whose survival is deeply tied to the Indus River system, developments upstream are increasingly viewed not as routine infrastructure projects, but as calculated shif...