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

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.