Keywords
Abstract
South Asia is home to some of the world's most intricate transboundary river systems, including the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mahakali, shared among eight nations. As population growth, rapid industrialization, and climate change intensify pressure on freshwater resources, the legal architecture governing water allocation has emerged as a critical determinant of regional peace and sustainable development. This article examines the foundational principles of international water law as applied in South Asia, provides a comprehensive analysis of major water-sharing treaties — particularly the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), the Ganges Water Treaty (1996), and the Mahakali Treaty (1996) — and evaluates the legal obligations these agreements impose on signatory states. The article further identifies structural deficiencies in the existing treaty frameworks, including gaps in environmental flow requirements, inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms, and the absence of climate adaptation provisions. It concludes by arguing that South Asian states must move toward modernized, multilateral water governance grounded in the principles of equitable utilization, the no-harm rule, and shared sovereignty, in order to avert a future defined by water conflict.
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