BAKU, Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is gearing up for negotiations over an ambitious canal project in neighbouring Afghanistan, which has raised significant concerns about water security in the region.
The proposed Qosh Tepa canal project is set to provide irrigation to around 550,000 hectares of currently arid farmland in Afghanistan. However, the project’s hasty advancement and apparent lack of oversight have caused unease among neighboring countries, particularly Uzbekistan.
Officials from Uzbekistan have announced plans to send a government delegation to Afghanistan in the coming months to conduct negotiations regarding the canal project.
This move comes as the Taliban-run government in Afghanistan prepares to commence work on the second phase of the Qosh Tepa canal. Afghan authorities have portrayed the canal as a means to address the country’s farming needs and promote agricultural development.
While Afghan officials have offered reassurances to neighboring nations, highlighting their willingness to engage in diplomatic discussions to address concerns about the canal’s impact on the Amu Darya River, they have also made it clear that they will resist any attempts to obstruct the project with determination. The Qosh Tepa canal is integral to Kabul’s strategy for transforming arid land into arable areas.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his apprehensions about the project’s potential consequences, calling on fellow Central Asian leaders to address the issue collectively. He emphasized the need to establish a joint working group to thoroughly investigate the project’s implications on the water regime of the Amu Darya.
The construction methods employed in the project have raised alarms among experts. These methods appear rudimentary, increasing the likelihood of water losses. Such a situation is concerning in a region where water is a precious resource.
Moreover, the ramifications of water withdrawal in Afghanistan are likely to have substantial economic impacts on Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In Uzbekistan, the withdrawal of vital water resources could pose a significant challenge to the irrigation of cotton plantations in regions like Bukhara, Khorezm, and Karakalpakstan. Cotton is a fundamental agricultural crop, contributing to around 17% of Uzbekistan’s GDP, and the livelihoods of nearly 40% of the country’s population are directly or indirectly connected to the agricultural sector.
As Afghanistan pushes forward with the Qosh Tepa canal project, the lack of meaningful dialogue and feasibility studies with neighboring countries remains a significant concern, given the potential to disrupt the regional water balance and impact the livelihoods of many people dependent on these resources. The situation calls for careful monitoring and diplomatic efforts to address the concerns of all stakeholders in the region.
