Rivers of Conflict: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Media Framing of the Indus Waters Treaty in Al Jazeera English during the 2025 Pakistan-India Crisis

Abstract

This research critically analyses Al Jazeera English’s construction of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) during the 2025 Pakistan-India crisis through Norman Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The present research article examines Al Jazeera’s five articles, which were published between April to July 2025. During this time the tensions were escalated between India and Pakistan, resulting from India’s unilateral move of suspending the treaty. The articles were selected in terms of relatedness of topics, richness of discourse and 
easy access. The data analysis revealed that Al Jazeera’s articles were marked with mobilized metaphors, high modality expressions and active transitivity structures. The articles positioned India as a proactive upper-riparian state and Pakistan as a vulnerable downstream country. Although, the writings in Al Jazeera tended to upload power imbalances and narratives related to war, the articles also included insights from legal and diplomatic experts. These experts offeredpeaceful and official solutions such as utilizing the Permanent Indus Commission and the Permanent Court of Arbitration for a solving the heightened tensions between the two countries. These narratives were meant to make the discussions more balanced and highlighting the importance of the treaty in maintain peace in the region. The findings of the present study reveal that global media doesn’t only shape and sometimes reshape public opinions towards some issue of global attention but also actively influence how people and governments perceive and handle transboundary water-related issues.