Water Resource Development in Northern Afghanistan and Its Implications for Amu Darya Basin

Abstract

This study attempts to provide an overview of (a) the amount of Amu Darya flows generated in the northern Afghanistan; (b) 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; (c) existing agreements between Afghanistan and the neighboring Central Asian States regarding the use waters in the Amu Darya Basin, their relevance and applicability in the present and in the future; and (d) future directions for water resources development and improved water management in the basin. Scarcity of data and information has been a key constraint in carrying out this study and the main reason for somewhat indefinite answers to the above questions. Adequate data is not available to provide assessment of non-agricultural water uses, such as the supply and potential for hydropower production and domestic water use, as well as future trends. Non-agricultural water uses should be addressed in future studies as the information becomes available.