NIAS Area Studies


PAKISTAN READER

Photo Source: The Himalayan Times
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

Nepal and India
Monsoons first, Floods next and the Blame Games follow

  Mahesh Bhatta

It is not that measures have not been taken in the past to deal with flooding on the border, however, unless India and Nepal come with comprehensive joint plans, inundation will continue to wreak havoc on each side of the border. 

Mahesh Bhatta is with the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), Kathmandu. Views expressed are authors' own.

Nepal is highly prone to natural disasters, especially floods and landslides that take place almost during monsoon. Every year floods create havoc at Indo-Nepal border, especially in southern plains of Nepal and the adjoining states of India mainly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Both the countries are well aware of this problem for long, yet the headlines during the latest flood episode speak of floods causing devastation across the border 'unexpectedly'. 

Is the problem inherent or political or both?

Nepal's Natural Problem

Fragile and rough geographic composition, elevated slopes, complicated geology, irregular weather patterns, and unplanned settlements have made Nepal more vulnerable to natural disasters. It now counts as one of the extremely vulnerable nations to flooding and landslides in the region. 

Due to heavy rainfall and river overflow, flood intensity in Nepal has risen in the latest years relative to the previous decades. 

Like every year when the communities along the Indo-Nepal border get inundated by floods, people and governments from each side demonstrate their concerns in public domain including social media, mainly by blaming each other. However, as rain recedes, the concern gets hushed within few days until the arrival of next monsoon. 

Every year hundreds and thousands of people lose their lives, get displaced and lose their property, yet the flood threats become insignificant to both the country. This year too, the concerns on flood have yet again raised high in the past couple of days. Because of continuous pouring rains over the days, many Nepali villages bordering India have been badly affected by the flood. One of the most caught observations is flood disaster has been caused mainly because of rapid infrastructural development and road construction from India on its side of the border.

The Floods in 2019: A Situational Overview

Three days of continuous heavy rainfall during early July this year has resulted in flooding and landslides all over Nepal, particularly in the 28 eastern districts, with the most severe damage in provinces 1, 2 and 3. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there had been 90 deaths, 29 missing and 41 injured. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), about 76,990 families (384,950 people) have been affected, and 18,694 houses are damaged. Sunsari, Morang and Udayapur districts of Province 1, and Siraha, Sarlahi, Rautahat and Mahottari districts of Province 2 were the worst impacted districts of Terai. The largest recorded 24-hour rainfall on July 11 and 12 were in Simara, Bara District, 311.9 mm, and in Janakpur, 245 mm. In Province 2 - Sarlahi, Saptari, and Mahottari districts have the floodwaters receding, but needs remain particularly high in Rautahat district.

There are continuing relief efforts from the government and non-government humanitarian agencies, and the situation is gradually returning to normalcy. The temporarily displaced population is gradually returning to their place. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of temporarily displaced persons has reduced from a peak of 17,431 on 16 July to 11,839 households. 

Floodwaters have declined in most areas, and significant roads are in operation following repair works. Rural highways, however, stay unreachable in some of the southern areas of the Terai districts, and waterlogging and related damage continues to pose operational difficulties in some places in the southern portion of Saptari, Rautahat, and Mahottari districts. Although water has begun to recede, a big section of the population is still underwater, especially in Rautahat district. Authorities have forecasted heavy rainfall in central and western regions to continue.

The Official View
 

Bureaucrats and officials from Nepal who have closely observed and monitored over the issues for the years have blamed the Indian side for considering this issue lightly and not coming with lasting solutions, despite series of attempts from Kathmandu. 

Sheetal Babu Regmi, a former secretary of water resources engaged in a series of discussions with India, recently said that governments on both sides have never been serious about addressing the long-standing issue of flooding in the Terai region, particularly the villages bordering India. He said, we tend to make great promises, but fail to fulfil them. India first builds boundary structures and then talks later. 

It is not that measures have not been taken in the past to deal with flooding on the border, however, unless India and Nepal come with comprehensive joint plans, inundation will continue to wreak havoc on each side of the border. 

Similarly, another former bureaucrat, Anup Upadhyay, a former secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources said, regular communication between authorities and engineers from both parties should be established to tackle the flooding issue. He said that weaknesses and shortcomings are on both sides. 

Likewise, Former foreign minister of Nepal, Prakash Sharan Mahat, who also served as energy minister said Nepal and India agreed to create a joint technical team to check regions susceptible to flooding and inundation during the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission in New Delhi in 2018. But there is no tangible progression, and when monsoon occurs, then the only discussion over flood, inundation, and embankment becomes our priority.

Nepal and India have five distinct mechanisms to deal with flood, inundation, and embankment. After a five-year hiatus, the "Joint Water Resources Commission" held its conference in New Delhi in January 2019. However, no substantial action has been taken seriously yet to tackle the problem. 

In 2011, the two sides also reached an agreement to share hydro-meteorological real-time information for flood prediction operations. In June and November 2018, field visits were conducted in the southern plains of Nepal from Jhapa district of eastern Terai to Banke district of western Terai and Nepal's side shared a technical report with the Indian side in February 2019. The report was discussed at the Inundation and Flood Management Joint Committee in May this year. However, for the Nepali team, negligible progress has been made because the Indian side has constantly said they need budget permission and structural redesign before they can execute the Nepali side report.

The Blame Game

Devastating floods have triggered bilateral tension between Nepal and India, with Nepali politicians and media outlets claiming that Indian dams and infrastructures along the shared border have left Nepal vulnerable by blocking the natural flow of rivers, causing monsoon an enormous catastrophe. 

Trans-boundary floods are both a political and a logistical concern. In case of recent floods, Nepal's ministry of home affairs yet again pointed to two large Indian dams on Kosi and Gandaki River, as well as highways, embankments, and dikes constructed parallel to Nepal's 1,751 km border with India, arguing that these infrastructures impede the natural water flow. 

The issue is that infrastructure on one side can have a severe effect on its neighbours, particularly during the monsoon. However, hydrologists and disaster specialists in Nepal argue that latest floods have been exacerbated not just because of built dams but also because of illegal mining of boulders and sand from the low Churia Hills for use in the rapidly growing construction in India.

On the other hand, India criticizes Nepal for generating floods because of heavy deforestation which contributes to the overflow of water into India. Similarly, Indian authorities assert they do not receive enough information and data about heavy rainfall in the mountains and glacier situations from Nepalese authorities. 

Moreover, the effect of these floods has deepened by human interference and myopic political action. The result is an international blame game, with India and Nepal accusing each other of short-sighted and self-interested policies. Citizens bordering each side have suffered because of poor collaboration at the institutional level to efficiently share data and coordinate disaster relief. The fact is that effective data sharing and early warning would lessen the destruction. Strategic thinking about how institutions deal with these disasters is now essential. Both nations should effectively share weather pattern data, take action to decrease the overall impact of floods, and consult each other while developing infrastructure that could have trans-boundary implications. The authorities and the experts from both sides need to recognize and accept the shared responsibility to minimize the harm and tackle this common natural threat.

Print Bookmark

August 2026 | CWA # 2241

Urja R Kudalkar | Urja R Kudalkar is a postgraduate student at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, RUAS, Bengaluru. She is currently a research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The Board of Peace Plan for Gaza:
August 2026 | CWA # 2235

Adwaith Sankar | Adwaith Sankar is an undergraduate student pursuing Political Science and International Liberal Studies through the NUS-Waseda Double Degree Programme. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

Southeast Asia (April-June 2026)
August 2026 | CWA # 2232

Dattesh D Parulekar | Dr Dattesh D. Parulekar is an Assistant Professor at the School of International and Area Studies, Goa University.

Latin America (Apr-Jun 2026):
August 2026 | CWA # 2226

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Colombia's ban on Female Genital Mutilation:
August 2026 | CWA # 2222

Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani and Urja R Kudalkar | Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani, Urja R Kudalkar are postgraduate students at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. They are currently Research interns at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)

Peru's new President Netanyahu's Washington visit
July 2026 | CWA # 2217

Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani, Urja R Kudalkar | Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani, Urja R Kudalkar are postgraduate students at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. They are currently Research interns at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)

The Berlin Pride attack
July 2026 | CWA # 2216

Manikranth Chakravarthula | Manikranth Chakravarthula is a doctoral student at the Conflict Resolution and Peace Research Programme, School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

The Houthis:
July 2026 | CWA # 2213

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Bengaluru

The US-Iran War, Week 22:
July 2026 | CWA # 2211

Priyanka Makhijani | Priyanka Makhijani is a postgraduate student at the department of Public Policy, School of Social Science, Ramaiah University of Applied science. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

AI's Rogue Agent Breach:
July 2026 | CWA # 2210

Adwaith Sankar | Adwaith Sankar is an undergraduate student pursuing Political Science and International Liberal Studies through the NUS-Waseda Double Degree Programme. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

ASEAN Regional Forum:
July 2026 | CWA # 2209

Namrata L Ghanghatkar | Namrata L Ghanghatkar is a postgraduate student at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru. She is currently a research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).

The return of US-Canada Tariff Tensions:
July 2026 | CWA # 2208

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

The US-Saudi Arabia Nuclear Cooperation Agreement:
July 2026 | CWA # 2204

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The Houthis target Saudi Arabia:
July 2026 | CWA # 2203

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

US-Iran War, Week 21:
July 2026 | CWA # 2197

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

The US-Iran War, Week 20:
July 2026 | CWA # 2195

Radhika M Agarwal | Radhika M Agarwal is a an internt at NIAS and also a postgraduate student at the Department of Politics and International Relations in Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar.

The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue: 
July 2026 | CWA # 2189

Dhivya KM | Dhivya K M is an intern at NIAS and is also a postgraduate student from the Department of Financial Economics, Madras School of Economics, Chennai.

The IMF World Economic Outlook: 
July 2026 | CWA # 2184

Deb Dutta | Deb Dutta completed his graduation from the Department of Political Science, Sir Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE), Puducherry. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

UNHCR Global Trends Report 2025: 
July 2026 | CWA # 2180

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

Iran after Ali Khamenei
July 2026 | CWA # 2177

Deb Dutta | Deb Dutta completed his graduation from the Department of Political Science, Sir Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE), Puducherry. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

PM Takaichi's India visit: 
July 2026 | CWA # 2174

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate student at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. She is also an intern at NIAS, Bengaluru. 

The Israel-Lebanon Framework:
July 2026 | CWA # 2172

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The US-Iran negotiations:
June 2026 | CWA # 2164

Shreya Upadhyay | Dr Shreya Upadhyay is an Assistant Professor at Christ (deemed to be) University, Bengaluru, and Fellow, Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies.

The United States (April-June 2026)
June 2026 | CWA # 2159

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

The US-Iran MoU
June 2026 | CWA # 2151

Rohini Reenum | Rohini Reenum is a doctoral student at NIAS. She is working on Governance in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction using the case study of the BBNJ Agreement.

Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Jews:
June 2026 | CWA # 2149

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The US-Iran MoU:
June 2026 | CWA # 2136

Acsah H | Acsah H is a postgraduate student at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Institute of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, MAHE, Manipal, Udupi. She is currently a research intern at NIAS.

The Blue Origin Rocket Explosion:
June 2026 | CWA # 2135

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

Shangri-La Dialogue 2026:
June 2026 | CWA # 2134

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies. Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at NIAS, Bengaluru.

Shangri-La Dialogue 2026: Four Major Takeaways
June 2026 | CWA # 2132

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The US-Iran War, Week Fourteen:
June 2026 | CWA # 2131

Rohini Reenum | Rohini Reenum is a doctoral student at NIAS. She is working on Governance in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction using the case study of the BBNJ Agreement.

Israel-Lebanon Tensions:
May 2026 | CWA # 2127

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru

The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting 2026:
May 2026 | CWA # 2124

Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengalur

The Crisis in Cuba:
May 2026 | CWA # 2121

Deb Dutta | Deb Dutta completed his graduation from the Department of Political Science, Sir Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE), Puducherry. He is currently an intern at NIAS.

Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and the Border Tensions:
May 2026 | CWA # 2120

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Conflicts in the Middle East
May 2026 | CWA # 2116

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is currently pursuing undergraduate studies at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. 

India, the UAE, and PM Modi’s visit:
May 2026 | CWA # 2114

Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru

What makes the UAE a global player?
May 2026 | CWA # 2112

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in international relations at Loyola College, Chennai. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Why does the Falkland Islands dispute keep recurring?
May 2026 | CWA # 2109

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

North Korea's Constitutional Amendment 2026:
May 2026 | CWA # 2104

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
May 2026 | CWA # 2091

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Conflicts in the Middle East:
May 2026 | CWA # 2090

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The US-Iran War, Week Ten:
May 2026 | CWA # 2088

Nithin V | Nithin V is a postgraduate student in International Relations, with an interest in geopolitics, international political economy, and climate governance. He is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

King Charles's US Visit:
May 2026 | CWA # 2087

Siddhi Halyur | Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Public Policy and Journalism at St Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Japan, Vietnam and PM Takaichis Visit
May 2026 | CWA # 2086

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf is a postgraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

UAE's Exit from OPEC:
May 2026 | CWA # 2085

Glynnis Winona B | Glynnis Winona B is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru

US troop withdrawal from Germany:
May 2026 | CWA # 2083

Brighty Ann Sarah | Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant with the Global Politics team at the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

The US-Iran War, Week Nine:
May 2026 | CWA # 2081

Jenin Raj S | Dr Jenin Raj S is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Centre for Media, Department of Journalism, Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bengaluru.

Media freedom hits a 25-year low:
April 2026 | CWA # 2079

Aishal Hab Yousuf | Aishal Hab Yousuf, Postgraduate student, Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Japans New Defence Posture:
April 2026 | CWA # 2074

Brighty Ann Sarah | Ms Sarah is a Research Assistant at NIAS and Assistant Editor of NIAS Conflict Weekly.

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
April 2026 | CWA # 2073

Akshath Kaimal | Mr Kaimal is a Research Assistant at NIAS. He works on Pakistan and Africa.

The US-Iran War, Week Eight:
April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon | Dr Lakshmi Venugopal Menon is an academic and policy researcher specializing in Gulf studies, cultural heritage trafficking, geopolitics, migration, Afghan politics and the Taliban.

The Middle East (JanMar 2026):
March 2026 | CWA # 2042

Preetha Renganarayanan

March 2026 | CWA # 2001

Preetha Renganarayanan

February 2026 | CWA # 1986

Preetha Renganarayanan

February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate student from Madras Christian College, Chennai.

UK and China
February 2026 | CWA # 1957

Preetha Renganarayanan | R Preetha is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

The India-US interim trade framework
February 2026 | CWA # 1956

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

End of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan