The newly constructed Qosh Tepa Canal in northern Afghanistan is drawing significant concern across Central Asia. According to climatologist Erkin Abdulahatov, the canal diverts approximately 10 cubic kilometers of water annuallyfrom the Amu Darya River, a lifeline for countries downstream.
The annual flow of the Amu Darya is highly variable. In peak years, the river generates over 70 cubic kilometers of water, while in drier periods, it can fall to as low as 35 cubic kilometers. In recent years, the flow has averaged between 40 and 50 cubic kilometers. This means that the Qosh Tepa Canal is now siphoning 20–25% of the river’s total volume—placing immense stress on water supplies in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
“This is directly affecting our regions such as Khorezm and Karakalpakstan,” Abdulahatov emphasized. “Water is not reaching those areas properly.”
A key issue is the absence of Afghanistan in regional water dialogues.
“We understand that Afghanistan is under Taliban rule and not officially recognized internationally,” Abdulahatov noted. “That’s why they aren’t invited to international seminars or discussions.”
Despite Afghanistan’s absence, water management ministries from Central Asian countries continue to meet regularly. Abdulahatov stressed that water must be managed through a sustainable and consistent approach, especially with the visible changes now occurring in the Amu Darya.
Abdulahatov also pointed out a critical internal challenge: water loss from unlined canals. Uzbekistan, for example, consumes around 30 cubic kilometers of water annually, which is nearly equivalent to the total water from Amu Darya gathered over the year.
“33% of our water is lost before it even reaches the fields,” he said. “This is due to canals and irrigation systems that are not concreted. Water seeps into sand and soil.”
As a result, countries like Uzbekistan have launched large-scale efforts to concrete canals, with investments made in recent years. Abdulahatov highlighted that this step alone could save considerable volumes of water.
Turkmenistan’s Minister of Water Resources has acknowledged the issue as well, stating that while studying the Qosh Tepa Canal, they noticed considerable water loss within the project itself. Turkmenistan is now planning to follow Uzbekistan’s lead in canal concreting.
After infrastructure improvements, the next step will be adopting water-saving technologies. The European Union has proposed solutions including sprinkler systems, drip irrigation, and smart monitoring tools. Innovation centers across the region are also contributing ideas for more efficient water management.
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