Two engineers working on the Qosh Tepa canal project in Shibirgan, Afghanistan, were killed in an attack. As per Etilaatroz, the engineers were shot by unknown assailants in their residences in the Sahiabad district.
The victims, employees of the National Development Company, were involved in the Qosh Tepa canal project. Details about their identities and the motives behind the attack have not been disclosed. The Taliban's security officials in have not commented on the incident.
The Qosh Tepa canal project is a major initiative for managing Amu Darya water resources in northern Afghanistan. The Taliban have stated that the first phase of the canal is operational, though the project has raised concerns among Central Asian countries. The canal aims to redirect water from the Amu Darya River to the Afghan-Uzbek border, potentially impacting regional water distribution.
Forecasts by The Economist suggest that the completion of the canal could increase regional tensions. Afghanistan imports a major portion of its electricity from Uzbekistan, and the canal's construction could affect diplomatic relations between the two countries. Uzbekistan, already losing 15% of its water resources due to climate change, could see an additional 10% reduction if the canal is completed, resulting in a total loss of 25% of its water resources.
President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has expressed concerns about the canal's potential to change the water regime and balance in Central Asia. The Taliban have assured Uzbekistan that the Qosh Tepa canal will not harm the neighboring country, though uncertainties remain regarding the project's broader implications.
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