Troubled Waters
Troubled Waters
by Will Rogers, Small Wars Journal Op-Ed
Troubled Waters (Full PDF Article)
The success of our military campaign in Afghanistan may rest squarely on what happens in Pakistan. And though it may not be the obvious lynchpin for America’s military strategy in Afghanistan, turning the tide there may involve the nexus of natural resources and national security in Pakistan.
Climate change is having a devastating impact on the region’s water security. Scientists project that by 2035 the Himalayan glaciers may completely disappear, taking away the water source that supports the Indus River and its tributaries, leaving millions of Pakistanis — already suffering from severe drought — parched.
Water has been an undergirding issue for Pakistan’s long-term stability. Competition over already scarce water resources has factionalized the society. Severe droughts have incited riots in its major cities like Karachi, while drought-induced grain shortages have shaped election outcomes. With Pakistan hinging on the verge of further destabilization, an irreversible water crisis that threatens the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis may be the last straw.
