Тaliban Committed to Continuing Dam Construction Efforts

Afghanistan has decided not to abandon the construction of dams to appease neighboring countries, as reported by Sputnik Afghanistan, citing Abdul-Latif Mansour, the acting head of the Water Ministry of the Islamic Emirate.

Mansour indicated that previous Afghan governments refrained from building large irrigation projects to benefit their neighbours. The civil war and ongoing economic challenges hindered the effective utilisation of water resources.

Now, the Taliban government aims to execute an independent water policy, even if this approach causes discontent among leaders of neighbouring nations. In November 2023, Ministerial Advisor Farooq Azam suggested using Afghanistan’s water resources as a diplomatic tool.

The construction of dams and canals in Afghanistan could potentially lead to water shortages in Central Asian countries. UNICEF has forecasted that the launch of the Kosh-Tepa canal will result in a 0.7% loss in Uzbekistan’s GDP and could leave up to 250,000 Uzbeks unemployed.

The Taliban plans to withdraw approximately ten cubic kilometers of water from the Amu Darya River each year to irrigate 500,000 hectares of agricultural land. The construction of the canal is expected to be completed by 2028.

Currently, Central Asian states manage water resources based on joint agreements. The Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC), established in 1992, regulates water use limits.

However, Afghanistan’s current leadership does not participate in these arrangements and is not bound by any obligations to other regional states.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Kosh-Tepa canal is 81% complete.