Kodikara research project 2010-2011 June 2011 Asma Yaqoob

Questionnaire

This questionnaire is part of the field research undertaken to write a research report on India-
Pakistan peace prospects in the wake of emerging environmental challenges in the Indus Basin.
The research report is entitled as “Mutual Vulnerability in the Indus Basin: Envisioning
Sustainable Peace between India and Pakistan”. This research is supported by the Regional
Center for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo under the Kodikara award programme for the
period of 2010-2011.

As an educated citizen of Pakistan, your response will help facilitate change process in the areas
of peace and development at the regional level. Your opinion may provide all of us a better
future liberated from expensive militarization of our borders.
This study is based upon the idea that the conflict between India and Pakistan about the
territorial control of Jammu and Kashmir needs to be seen through a ‘holistic’ approach.
A systemic transformation of the relationships and perhaps the interests must bring
positive change in the region. Climate change is seriously affecting the flow of the Indus
Basin leading to the emergence of a number of cross-border water sharing issues between
India and Pakistan. This is not only undermining peace prospects in the region but
presents a scenario tied with an insecure attitude towards each other. There is a clear need
to transform the relationship patterns between India and Pakistan for sustainable peace
and development in the region.
The study is an effort to gather data on methods of conflict transformation by evaluating the
potential of bilateral water management. It will get publish by the RCSS as a policy series paper
and will have important impacts on national and international policy makers.
Your individual answers will not reveal your identity. The responses will only be used as
research data. Regarding the open-ended question, you can choose to be reported with quotation
in the research report.
Your participation is voluntary. You may refuse to answer any question. There is no personal
risk to you in responding to this questionnaire since no information concerning respondents will
be given to their institutions or any one else. If you have any questions related to the study or
this questionnaire, please send an email to msasmayaqoob(at)yahoo.com

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Kodikara research project 2010-2011 June 2011 Asma Yaqoob

Please use the sign of check ‘√’ for your chosen option/s.

1. In your opinion, what are the main reasons behind Indo-Pak conflicts?
a) Unfinished episodes of partition such as Kashmir
b) Religious differences/fundamental politics of interest groups
c) Deep-rooted mistrust
d) Lack of positive attitude
e) All of them

2. Do you think that the root of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan lies in the
shared water resource system of Indus basin, which rises from the mountains in Jammu &
Kashmir to enter into Pakistan? Resolution of water issues will mean the resolution of
Kashmir dispute and vice versa.
a. Totally Agree
b. Partially Agree
c. Neither Agree or Disagree
d. Partially Disagree
e. Totally Disagree
f. Do not know

3. Do you think that a systematic transformation of relationships and interests between India
and Pakistan may result in sustainable peace and security in the region?
a) Totally Agree
b) Partially Agree
c) Neither Agree or Disagree
d) Partially Disagree
e) Totally Disagree

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Kodikara research project 2010-2011 June 2011 Asma Yaqoob

4. Do you agree that Independent water policies of India and Pakistan indifferent to cross-
border losses are only deteriorating the bilateral relationship and remain unable to tackle
the challenges resulting from climate change and widespread poverty?
a) Totally Agree
b) Partially Agree
c) Neither Agree or Disagree
d) Partially Disagree
e) Totally Disagree

5. Do you think that a bilateral recognition of regional interdependency in the Indus Basin
can help reduce the growing water crises in the region?
a) Totally Agree
b) Partially Agree
c) Neither Agree or Disagree
d) Partially Disagree
e) Totally Disagree

6. Will you support the idea of joint ventures in cross-border water management?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Do not know

7. Do you think that the transformation of India-Pakistan conflict through positive social
change is a better approach than a political resolution?
a) Totally Agree
b) Partially Agree
c) Neither Agree or Disagree
d) Partially Disagree
e) Totally Disagree

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Kodikara research project 2010-2011 June 2011 Asma Yaqoob

8. Given the fact that outside mediation is unwelcomed by India in the region, who can be
the best facilitator/actor to help achieve conflict transformation between India and
Pakistan by raising the level of awareness and changing the attitudes towards each other?
a) Civil society groups from India and Pakistan such as Mass Media
b) Political organisations
c) National and multinational environmental agencies
d) Business groups
e) Educational institutes
f) All of them

9. Can you identify some of the limitations in Indo-Pakistan conflict transformation

process?
a) Misperceptions and distrust for each other
b) Lack of information sharing/communication gap
c) Interest groups across the divide
d) Fundamental religious groups in India and Pakistan
e) Negative media hype about each other
f) Identity clash as promoted by curriculum/history books
g) External actors (e.g. United States of America)
h) Militant/terrorist organisations
i) All of them
j) Any other…………………………………………………………..

10. Can you recommend any thing that helps transform relationship and interests between
India and Pakistan?

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Kodikara research project 2010-2011 June 2011 Asma Yaqoob

Name Organisation

E-mail

Thank you for your precious time.