Abstract
Effective regional planning in the Indus basin necessitates greater transboundary data sharing on environmental indicators. Reliable hydrological data across political borders is essential to ensure more accurate and effective risk management mechanisms. Given the high vulnerability of this region to climate change, data sharing through existing regional cooperation organizations such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) must be further encouraged. There is potential to also learn from the limitations of the data sharing mechanisms under the Indus Waters Treaty. Recent natural disasters have highlighted the need for urgent action on this matter, and thus the vision of “Industan” is not merely a peace-building ideal but a pragmatic risk management strategy, particularly for India and Pakistan.
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Notes
- 1.
World Bank estimates derived from South Asia portal on World Bank Web site – www.worldbank.org
- 2.
Recognizing the importance of development donors and broader strategic interests, SAARC has also granted observer status to Australia, China, the European Union, Japan, Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States (Ahmed 2013).
- 3.
“Pakistan PM to take-up Pak-Tajik road project.” The Daily Times (Pakistan), October 10, 2011.
- 4.
For a review of SCO in the context of regional environmental cooperation, see Wang, 2011
- 5.
South Asian University, New Delhi, Web site accessed September 1, 2015: http://www.sau.int/
- 6.
Peoples’ SAARC Web site, accessed September 2, 2012; http://www.peoplesaarc.org
- 7.
Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on NDTV Web site, accessed September 2, 2012 : http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/prime-minister-manmohan-singh-speaks-at-the-saarc-summit-full-text-570066
- 8.
South Asian Network for Development Economics and the Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal: http://www.sandeeonline.org/, retrieved August 10, 2015.
- 9.
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Mission statement online : http://www.icimod.org/?q=122
- 10.
The LEAD network of nongovernmental organizations was initiated by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1995 to create and sustain a global network of leaders who are committed to promote change toward patterns of sustainable development that are economically sound, environmentally responsible, and socially equitable, in line with Agenda 21 promulgated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED: Rio Summit, 1992).
- 11.
For an analysis of this arbitration, refer to Prakash Pilla’s commentary Kishenganga arbitration and viability of arbitration in resolving State-to-State disputes. Published online at multiple venues – July 17, 2015: http://kluwerarbitrationblog.com/2015/07/16/kishenganga-arbitration-and-viability-of-international-arbitration-in-resolving-state-to-state-disputes/
- 12.
The International Court of Arbitration process that decided on the Kishanganga dispute issued an order in October 2012 allowing a Pakistani delegation to inspect the site of the dam and visit the Wullar Barrage and Tulbul navigation projects (Parsai, 2012).
- 13.
“India’s move to fill Nimoo-Bazgo dam in J&K irks Pak.” Rediff News, August 12, 2012 : http://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-s-move-to-fill-nimoo-bazgo-dam-in-kashmir-irks-pak/20120812.htm
- 14.
As noted on the Energy Charter Web site accessed August 14, 2015. “Taking into account the position of the EU, the Charter Conference decided on 29 November 2011 to repeal the negotiation mandate of 2009. In view of the possibility of a reset of negotiations on a new Protocol, the Trade and Transit Group was tasked to conduct consultations among ECT members (in 2012), observers and industry representatives, in order to obtain more information with regard to the prospects for such an initiative, including the issues to be addressed and the convergence of positions within the constituency in this regard.”
- 15.
Mission statement from SARI/Energy Web site, accessed August 14, 2015: http://www.sari-energy.org/
- 16.
“Hanoi’s support sought for Dhaka’s entry.” The News Today, Dhaka, November 2, 2012: http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2327818&date=2012-11-03
- 17.
For descriptive details on this technical concept, refer to World Meteorological Organization’s factsheet online http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/hwrp/chy/chy14/documents/ms/Stationarity_and_Nonstationarity.pdf (Accessed, November 6, 2015).
- 18.
For further details, refer to the Sendai Process web page: http://www.wcdrr.org/preparatory/post2015
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Ali, S.H., Zia, A. (2017). Transboundary Data Sharing and Resilience Scenarios: Harnessing the Role of Regional Organizations for Environmental Security. In: Adeel, Z., Wirsing, R. (eds) Imagining Industan. Water Security in a New World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32845-4_7
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