Water: A Source for Future Conflicts

Water, air and sunlight are the three most important resources for the sustenance of life on planet earth. While human race has hardly any control on-air and sunlight, water from time immemorial has always been used by various kingdoms/ states/ groups of people as an important aspect of their respective security policies to exercise their influence over their adversaries through a control/ denial of common water resources. Such a conflict of interest has often led the concerned stakeholders, to go for dispute resolution through an armed skirmish/ battle. It needs to be appreciated that the shortage of water affects food security and the energy security of a country. With depleting resources and increasing demands; the situation is gradually becoming extremely critical and a number of flashpoints for future conflicts are emerging.