A cooperative security framework to enhance bilateral hydroelectric cooperation in South Asia

Using the historical trends in Bangladesh–India water disputes as a background, this chapter argues that if Bangladesh and India approach the proposed Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Dam on the transboundary Barak River from a cooperative security angle, they will be successful in making a significant deviation from the sovereignty-based approach that has been a prevailing feature of negotiations on water issues in South Asia. By emphasising the benefit from a ‘share the resources’ model, as opposed to a ‘divide the resources’ model, such an approach will be mutually beneficial and may have significant ‘spillover’ repercussions for multilateral cooperation on rivers in South Asia.