Transboundary Water from Afghanistan: Climate Change, and Land-Use Implications brings together diverse factual material on the physical geography and political, cultural, and economic implications of Southwest Asian transboundary water resources. It is the outgrowth of long-term deep knowledge and experience gained by the authors, as well as the material developed from a series of new workshops funded by the Lounsbery Foundation and other granting agencies. Afghanistan and Pakistan have high altitude mountains providing vital water supplies that are highly contentious necessities much threatened by climate change, human land-use variation, and political manipulation, which can be managed in new ways that are in need of comprehensive discussions and negotiations between all the riparian nations of the Indus watershed (Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan). This book provides a description of the basic topographic configuration of the Kabul River tributary to the Indus river, together will all its tributaries that flow back and forth across the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the basic elements that are involved with the hydrological cycle and its derivatives in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush and Himalaya. Synthesizes information on the physical geography and political, cultural, and economic implications of Southwest Asian transboundary water resources Offers a basic topographic description of the Indus River watershed Provides local water management information not easily available for remote and contentious border areas Delivers access to the newest thinking from chief personnel on both sides of the contentious border Features material developed from a series of new workshops funded by the Lounsbery Foundation and other granting agencies

The book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-scale assessment of development-directed investigations in the main rivers of wider Central Asia and Afghanistan. The book highlights the development of river systems, water reservoirs, ecosystems and risks as well as the impact of climate change on water resources in Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. It provides information on the genesis of river basins, physical and chemical properties of water in rivers, and the hydrological regimes of the rivers of Central Asia and Afghanistan. The book is useful for scientists and researchers whose work focuses on rivers and the use of water resources, irrigation, ecosystems, risks, water supply, climate change and remote sensing, as well as for students and planners, administrations and other stakeholders in the water sector.

This publication examines increased water use by Afghanistan and its implications for other water users in the basin, including the Aral Sea, both in the short and long term. Topics discussed include: the amount of Amu Darya flows generated in northern Afghanistan; the amount of water presently used in northern Afghanistan, prospective use in the near future, and possible impact of the increased use on the riparian states and the Aral Sea; existing agreements between Afghanistan and the neighbouring Central Asian states on the use of waters in the Amu Darya Basin, their relevance and applicability in the present and in the future; and future directions for water resources development and improved water management in the basin.

The four decades long ideological-based insurgencies and conflict in the Kabul River Basin (KRB) have seriously hampered the relations and foreign policies of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Consequently, it restricts them to solve various bilateral issues including transboundary waters. This lack of cooperation over shared water resources is one of the barriers to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. Additionally, it has contributed to the prevailing anarchic situation where each country does what it wants. The absence of a formal water-sharing mechanism coupled with poor water management practices within both the riparian counties are resulting various flow and administration-related challenges. Moreover, these challenges are further exacerbated by regional changes in social, political, environmental and economic systems. The scholarly literature suggests that an analytical transboundary water governance framework is essential to address the challenges of water politicisation and securitisation, quality degradation and quantity reduction. Additionally, the literature rarely integrates (a) a multi-level approach, (b) an institutional approach (c) an inclusive development approach, or (d) accounts for the uses of different types of water and their varied ecosystem services for improved transboundary water governance. To enhance human wellbeing and achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the KRB this research indicates that it is essential to: (1) defrost frozen collaboration; (2) bypass border dispute; (3) use biodiversity and ecosystem services approach; (4) address existing and potential natural and anthropogenic challenges; (5) remove contradictions in the policy environment; (6) combat resource limits and dependence by promoting collaboration on long-term cost effective solutions; and (7) enhance knowledge and dialogue on inclusive development.

Since the fall of the Taliban, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) has been actively trying to resume its hydraulic mission that was put on hold in the late 1970s. Improving water control through the construction of dams has been described by the GIRoA as a silver bullet for Afghanistan's development, including food security, hydropower production and mitigating the impacts of droughts and floods. In a country where 90 percent of the surface water resources are shared with downstream neighbouring countries, this long-term and ongoing process of transboundary water resources development raises the question of the nature of interactions between Afghanistan and its riparian neighbours. Of particular importance is whether interactions are likely to evolve toward more conflict or more cooperation.

This study addresses the questions: 1) What kind of transboundary water management institution is needed for Afghanistan; and 2) what expertise is required for the institution and which stakeholders should be involved? The establishment of a transboundary water resources management institution/unit is an essential step for Afghanistan in order to tackle the transboundary waters issue with its co-riparian states. The research also indicated the primary challenges and obstacles (ranging from political matters to technical issues) that a developing country like Afghanistan should anticipate while creating a transboundary waters institution. This study also focused on the perceived risks of cooperation over transboundary water resources from the Afghan standpoint. Furthermore, it reviewed the experience of cooperation between Afghanistan and Iran over the Helmand waters negotiation in 1973. To address the aforementioned questions, I Interviewed transboundary water experts of Afghanistan, applied the risk and opportunities to cooperation framework, used the available literature and secondary data on the topic, and used the situation mapping tool for the Helmand Basin case. At present, lack of technical knowledge, data gaps, weak bargaining and negotiation skills relative to co-riparian states, lack of public support to transboundary waters negotiations – due to lack of awareness of the topic - doubts on faithfulness of co-riparian states on delivering benefits, and the existence of various stakeholders of transboundary waters in the Afghan government are the main concerns. On whether Afghanistan should cooperate or not, the study found that none of the interviewees opposed transboundary water negotiations. However, there were two camps regarding the timing of dialogues with co-riparians. The first group of participants was in favor of dialogue initiation with co-riparian states for now, and the eventual negotiation of water treaties or agreements in the future. The second group opposes current negotiations - this camp wants Afghanistan’s government to start preparing and enhancing its technical knowledge and capacity, bargaining skills, and institutional arrangements for future negotiations. Study results showed existing political will toward transboundary water cooperation and the availability of abundant funding from the donor agencies, as well as from the government of Afghanistan to transboundary waters. Recommendations were made for the design and structure of a transboundary water resources management unit, believed to be the first of its kind in the world. In addition, this study identified the perceived risks to cooperation, and, based on those identified risks, offered risk reduction strategies as well.