Transboundary Headwater Governance in Hindu Kush Himalaya: A Regional Cooperation Framework for Climate Change Adaptation, Water and Food Security and Peace in South Asia

Hindu Kush Himalaya constitutes headwater of some of the largest transboundary basins of planet that sustain one-fourth global population dependent primarily on subsistence agriculture in South Asia. Climate change has stressed hydrological regimes of Himalayan headwaters causing substantial decrease in water availability and increasing frequency and severity of hydrological hazards and disasters. This may not only increase proportion of water and food insecure population in South Asia, but also have enormous regional implications for fundamental human endeavors ranging from poverty alleviation to climate change adaptation, and even to human security and peace in the region. A regional geo-political cooperation framework among riparian countries is therefore highly imperative not only for adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management; but also for peace and security in South Asia. Study aims to: (i) investigate reasons for missing river-basin cooperation; (ii) explore geo- political constraints in initiating effective regional cooperation dialogue; and (iii) appraise mutual environmental and economic benefits of transboundary headwater governance. Comprehensive study of available literature and media reports, interpretation of people responses obtained through interviews, interaction with political leadership and government officials across Hindu Kush Himalayan countries formed the basis of this study. Study revealed South Asia is one of the most fragmented regions in the world, characterized by political tensions, armed conflict, political instability and economic imbalances. It was observed political transition, threats of internal and external security, and long standing conflictual inter- state dynamics are some of the important reasons for missing regional cooperation in transboundary water management and freezing hydro-diplomacy in the region. However, there are growing realization and recommendations by scientific community, intellectuals, regional and local institutions, NGOs and civil society organizations for transboundary water governance which would help in initiating regional cooperation for adaptive headwater governance in the region.