Afghanistan intends to use transboundary water resources on the basis of equal rights with neighbouring countries, especially Turkmenistan, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reports. Acting minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan Nooruddin Azizi said this in his speech at a joint economic forum in Ashgabat.
"In the use of transboundary hydro resources and the construction of water facilities, designed to serve the further prosperity of the Afghan people, Kabul will certainly proceed from the principles of mutual consent, equality and mutual respect with neighboring countries, especially with Turkmenistan, which has maintained friendly and good neighborly relations with Afghanistan for many years."
According to the information, the sides reviewed the basic approaches and principles of the parties on the rational use of the region’s water.
"Turkmenistan advocates that water cooperation with neighboring countries shall be carried out in accordance with international law, based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and transparency, in the spirit of traditional good neighborliness and fraternity."
The Turkmen side also noted that the country is systematically working on the efficient use of water resources and the introduction of water-saving technologies.
Afghanistan is now actively implementing a project to build the huge Qosh-Tepa Canal in Balkh province on the border with Turkmenistan. Estimated to cost $684mn, the canal will originate in the Amu Darya River and be 285km long. The project is expected to be completed in 2028.
Experts told Daryo that the watershed situation in the region could become more complicated once the canal is operational, with downstream Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan likely to suffer the most. Both countries could lose up to 15% of their irrigation water from the region's main river. The Taliban believe the project will help irrigate their country's arid region.
Eziz Boyarov
Comments (0)