As tensions between India and Pakistan over water-sharing intensify, historian Daniel Haines believes that a renegotiation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is increasingly likely. In an interview, the University College London (UCL) professor highlighted how both nations had raised concerns long before the current impasse and emphasized the need to modernize the 1960 agreement.

Haines, an expert in the history of risk and disaster, argues that the treaty, while successful in avoiding major conflicts, was crafted in a different era - one that overlooked ecological sustainability and climate realities. He sees the current standoff as an opportunity to incorporate environmental protections, disaster management frameworks, and equitable usage models.

The IWT, brokered by the World Bank, allocates control over the Indus River system's waters between India and Pakistan. While it has survived wars and crises, new challenges - like glacial melt, floods, and upstream projects - have strained its relevance.

Haines suggests that renegotiation, if pursued wisely, could strengthen cooperation and regional water resilience.