Resolving strategic conflict for environmental conservation of glacial ecosystem: an attitudinal conflict resolution approach

International Journal of Global Warming. 2019. Vol. 18. No. 3/4. P. 221–238.

Ali S., Haiyan X., Ahmed W., Ahmad N.

The mitigation and adaptation efforts are underway to combat climate changes. The efforts are also needed for regional cooperation to conserve glacial environment. Strategic and military conflicts have environmental consequences and implications for environmental security. The natural resources are scarce and vulnerable to human activities. Regional cooperation is needed to resolve environmental issues. The military presence at Siachen has imperilled its ecosystem. Prolonged militarisation of the glaciers would further pollute and adversely impact the glacial ecosystem. The resolution of the conflict is indispensable for environmental conservation of the glacial ecosystem. This study is an application of attitude-based negotiation strategy in the graph model to resolve the long-standing Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan by considering possible strategies for the demilitarisation. It concludes that demilitarisation would preserve a spectacular mountain, retain hydrologic balance in the region, save the tremendous resources of these economies and would add to global environmental protection efforts.

Keywords: global warming, climate change, conflict resolution, resource conservation, environmental conservation, glacial melt, strategic conflicts, demilitarisation, attitude-based preference