The issue of border and trans-boundary water politics has a significant role in shaping the intensities of conflict and cooperation at national and international level. Trans-boundary water resources can be described as water shared across political, economic, or social boundaries. Shared border and water resources have always been a potential source of competition. They are the settings for different collaborative decisions which come with their own political, socio-economic and environmental implications. The research topic makes a closer examination of the different elements in trans-boundary water and border conflicts, border encroachments, sheds light on the challenges concerning the management of border and trans-boundary water resources, and attempts to make a stronger analytical inquiry to analyze the different elements of the process of border and trans-boundary water conflict resolution.
Lessons from around the world show that basin wide co-operation is possible, even between countries that face diplomatic upheavals. One of the most successful examples in a developing region is that of the Senegal River Basin Organization (OMVS) that brought together Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.
Lipulekh and Kalapani — a trijuncture of India-Nepal and China — are of geostrategic and geopolitical importance as India can keep an eye against any attempt of encroachment by China or the movement of People’s Liberation Army towards India.
As a bigger regional power, it is incumbent upon India to make the first move and demonstrate its benevolence. New Delhi needs to rein in the present regional situation by building new joint border dispute mechanisms that are equipped to deal with current issues more efficiently.
India should respond positively to Nepal’s request for high level talks involving Foreign Secretaries and Political leadership once the COVID-19 crisis is over. The two governments should fill the communication gap as a matter of urgency.
COVID-19 may significantly shape the US’s China policy. Some US officials call the pandemic this generation’s “Pearl Harbor.” The COVID-19 crisis will affect the outcome of the US presidential election in November and attitudes toward China. Once the US overcomes the virus’s peak its China strategy and the approach that the US chooses will affect the security situation throughout the Indo-Pacific.
At the time when China has resolved its ‘land border’ with all its neighbours, debarring Bhutan and India, India having border disputes with many of its neighbour do not fit in its ambition to rise as a regional and global power. It is in mutual interest to resolve it through dialogue as soon as possible.
