DUSHANBE: During the summit of leaders from the founding states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea held in Dushanbe, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan raised a critical concern regarding the planned launch of Afghanistan’s Kosh Tepa canal, which is set to draw water from the Amu Darya River. President Mirziyoyev highlighted the potential for this canal to significantly alter the water regime and balance in Central Asia.
Afghanistan, unlike other Central Asian states, currently lacks water-related agreements with its neighboring countries concerning the use of the Amu Darya River. President Mirziyoyev emphasized the emergence of a new participant in the water-use process within the region, one not bound by any obligations to Central Asian states.
“In fact, a new participant in the water use process has appeared in our region, who is not bound with any obligations with our countries. You know well that Afghanistan is actively constructing the canal. Its introduction can radically change the water regime and balance in Central Asia,” President Mirziyoyev pointed out.
In response to these concerns, Abdul-Latif Mansour, the head of the Taliban’s Ministry of Water and Energy, stated, “Those who express their concerns should do so on the basis of an agreement, but Afghanistan does not have any water-related agreements with anyone here, and we have never had any agreements in this area. If the agreement is violated, we express our concern.” He further added that the Taliban are prepared to discuss the issue of utilizing water from the Amu Darya.
Afghanistan’s Right on Resources of Amu Darya River
Water resources expert Najibullah Sadid, who had previously criticized the Taliban project, asserted that Kabul has a legitimate right to use the resources of the Amu Darya River. He estimated that the current Afghan authorities have access to approximately 27 to 30% of the Amu Darya’s water resources.
The Kosh Tepa Canal project, initiated in March 2023, entails the construction of an 8.5-meter-deep canal spanning 285 kilometers. The canal will draw water from the Amu Darya in Kaldar district, Balkh province, and boasts a capacity of 650 cubic meters per second. With an estimated cost of approximately $684 million, the project aims to irrigate 3 million jeribs of land and provide employment opportunities for about 250,000 people in the Balkh, Jawzjan, and Faryab provinces.
However, experts have expressed concerns that the canal’s operation, set for completion in 2028, could exacerbate the already challenging situation of water sharing in the region. Central Asian countries, particularly downstream Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, are expected to bear the brunt of potential water shortages, potentially losing up to 15% of their irrigation water from the primary river in the region. Uzbekistan, in particular, with a growing population of 36 million and heavy agricultural water usage, may be severely affected by these changes.
