Indus tight edit
43 images Created 11 Dec 2017
The Indus River, one of Asia's longest, originates in the Himalayan glaciers of China and India before flowing the length of Pakistan. It is that country's main source of fresh water and life blood, used for extensive irrigation of commercial and food crops, industry, and to provide hydroelectric power. Without it, Pakistan couldn't exist, yet several factors are making such reliance increasingly difficult to sustain.
First, the Indus flows from Pakistan's rival India, which thanks to an extensive and growing dam network has the power to drastically reduce the water allowed through to Pakistan. A 1960 treaty defines which Kashmiri headwaters India and Pakistan control, though recent military disputes and disagreements over India's efforts to utilize the river in its territory have raised questions about its ability and intention to essentially weaponize water.
Second, climate change is affecting the monsoon rains and many of the glaciers that are the source of half the river's water, throwing into doubt both India's and Pakistan's long-term economic dependence on the river. Paradoxically, this has been the cause of recent flooding as some glaciers melt more than normal, but once they have shrunk water flows will be less than necessary to sustain the economy built on the Indus. Overall, each glacier reacts differently, and only a small fraction of the thousands of glaciers have been studied in a meaningful way.
Finally, Pakistan, with a rapidly growing population, has the most water-intensive economy in the world, and is already water-stressed based on the amount of fresh water available per person. Major changes are necessary to make agriculture and irrigation more efficient, yet to do so will require scientific advances and taking on corrupt interests unlikely to yield.
First, the Indus flows from Pakistan's rival India, which thanks to an extensive and growing dam network has the power to drastically reduce the water allowed through to Pakistan. A 1960 treaty defines which Kashmiri headwaters India and Pakistan control, though recent military disputes and disagreements over India's efforts to utilize the river in its territory have raised questions about its ability and intention to essentially weaponize water.
Second, climate change is affecting the monsoon rains and many of the glaciers that are the source of half the river's water, throwing into doubt both India's and Pakistan's long-term economic dependence on the river. Paradoxically, this has been the cause of recent flooding as some glaciers melt more than normal, but once they have shrunk water flows will be less than necessary to sustain the economy built on the Indus. Overall, each glacier reacts differently, and only a small fraction of the thousands of glaciers have been studied in a meaningful way.
Finally, Pakistan, with a rapidly growing population, has the most water-intensive economy in the world, and is already water-stressed based on the amount of fresh water available per person. Major changes are necessary to make agriculture and irrigation more efficient, yet to do so will require scientific advances and taking on corrupt interests unlikely to yield.
