Topical Talk

Kashmir: who owns water?

Should countries control natural resources?

Collage of pages from the “Kashmir: who owns water?” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 30 May 2025

This lesson is more than 6 months old. Please check the facts before teaching to ensure they are up-to-date and still correct.

About this lesson

In April 2025, after an attack in Kashmir, India announced a temporary halt to a vital water-sharing agreement with Pakistan over the Indus River.

Why do disagreements and conflict arise when vital resources are scarce? Can a country – or anyone – claim ownership of something that is shared? And what happens when those resources aren't distributed fairly?

Use this lesson to help students:

  • Explore why vital resources often spark or complicate international disputes
  • Consider if a person or country should be able to own a natural resource
  • Discuss if there are fairer approaches to sharing Earth’s resources
Download the resource (Zip)

Skills and knowledge

  • Listening

    Step 0: I listen to others without interrupting
    Did you listen to other people without interrupting when reading the script?

    Step 3: I listen to others and can tell someone else what it was about
    Did you listen to your partner's ideas and share your ideas in the discussion?

    Step 11: I listen critically and compare different perspectives
    Did you listen critically to different perspectives with the “what if statements”?

  • Knowledge

    I know that resources are sometimes scarce, which can lead to conflict like in Kashmir
    What might happen if resources are not shared fairly?

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