Pakistan and India are water-stressed countries and the seed of water conflict between the two has been sowed by the Punjab boundary commission at the time of Partition. Transboundary water treaties have played a significant role in resolving water disputes though the mechanism of conflict resolution varies and structurally fails to address the future problems that may arise. Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has been examined as an efficacious Model of conflict resolution and induced cooperation from the 1960s to 1980s. Pakistan claimed that India is violating IWT by building dams and diverting waters of Western Rivers flowing from India to Pakistan. Therefore, the research attempts to answer the following questions. What is the cumulative effect of Indian dams being constructed on the Western Rivers? Can India Unilaterally withdraw from the treaty? What would be the implications if India violates the treaty? Holistic content analysis of the qualitative method and conflict theory has been used to investigate the water conflict between Pakistan and India. The key findings are that violation of the treaty by India is perceived as a security threat by Pakistan and also increases its economic concerns. The tension between the two neighbors over water sharing can lead to a water war which poses serious threats to regional peace and security.

Fears of future water shortages due to the construction of dams are causing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. Divisive political narratives in both India and Pakistan are generally seen to increase the likelihood of conflict. In India, a narrative of Pakistani-affiliated Islamic terror cells attacking civilians has been used to justify backing away from diplomacy and even threatening to reduce Pakistan’s water supply Meanwhile, nationalist media in Pakistan have blamed floods in the country on poor water management in Indian Pakistanis also fear that India will use its upstream dams to control how much water flows down into Pakistan via the Indus. It is this inherent suspicion and mistrust between the two states that have also been used to provoke anti-Indian sentiment in Pakistan, providing fertile ground for further hostility and conflict The solutions to resolve water-sharing disputes, to begin with, should include steps for conserving water in various sectors. There has to be a continuous dialogue among stakeholders on the various aspects of water-sharing. A permanent forum should be constituted for this purpose. The resolution of water-sharing disputes should not be only in the domain of governments.