COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA

Abstract

Pakistan and India have been repeatedly enlisted as the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Both countries face a series of common environmental issues owing to climate change, smog, drought and floods, to name a few. However, since the Uri attack in 2016, India has virtually suspended SAARC by not participating in annual summits. Since then, stern gridlock has been witnessed in bilateral relations between Pakistan and India. In this regard, the first half of the paper highlights common environmental issues faced by Pakistan and India and later suggests areas of cooperation to overcome these challenges. The qualitative analysis shows that common environmental challenges faced by Pakistan and India provide an opportunity to break the ice between two neighbouring yet antagonist countries and rejuvenate the bilateral dialogue process. The paper aims to highlight the importance of cooperation over common environmental challenges, which has the potential to end the deadlock between Pakistan and India and spillover cooperation in other areas of common interest.

Bibliography Entry

Khan, Omair Farooq (2022) “Common Environmental Challenges and Opportunities for Cooperation between Pakistan and India” ISSRA Papers. 14: 18-31.