Water is a vital resource, but in Central Asia it is det increasingly a source of conflict. Tensions between the countries are increasing as water resources which supports millions of peopleice reduces. Andn Violent clashes have already occurred. Nu An intensive search for solutions is underway for the region.
– I have farmed this land my whole life and have seen so many people from this area leave over the years due to the heat, dry weather and lack of water.
This tells Adyl Khujanov, a farmer from the village of Kyzylkesek in the Karakalpakstan region for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Hand testifies that he is one of several farmers vars growing conditions become difficult in Uzbekistan.
The Syr Darya and the Amu Darya are two of the largest rivers that supply the Aral Sea with water. They vital rivers provides water to millions of people in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, men has seen drastic falling water levels in recent years.
Deteriorating neighborly relations when water becomes a conflict line
But drought and crop failure are not the only consequences of water shortages. Relations between neighbors are also affected. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan controls the water flow downstream. This has created tensions in relations with neighboring countries, especially Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which depend on a stable water flow for their Agriculture.
In April 2021 Violence broke out on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan due to a water reservoir. At least 41 people were killed in the bloody clashes. The analyst Syed Fazl-e-Haider warns because similar incidents could become increasingly common if nothing is done to regulate water distribution in a fair manner.
To avoid a crisis of greater proportions, the countries in the region are trying to cooperate through international agreements, but the cooperation is fragile.
I February was held a summit in the Kazakh capital, Astana where leaders from the region discussed joint water strategies. The UN and the World Bank have also tried to mediate to achieve a more equitable distribution of water.
At the same time, pressure is increasing to modernize water management in all countries in the region. According to experts, huge amounts of water are wasted in inefficient irrigation systems and outdated infrastructure. In just Kyrgyzstan waste as much as 30–50 percent of the water.
Eyebrow Tepa Canal further increases tensions
One of the most controversial water projects in the region right now is Qosh Tepacanal in Afghanistan. The canal, under construction since 2022, extends from the Amu Darya River and aims to give Afghanistan greater control over its water resources. When completed, the project could redirect a significant amount of water from the river to arid areas in northern Afghanistan, which is considered crucial for the country's agriculture.
But the project has created concern in neighboring countries, especially Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which also rely heavily on the Amu Darya for their agriculture and ecosystems. Both countries have expressed concerns that the canal construction could reduce water flow downstream and exacerbate already critical water shortages.
As the world's water resources become increasingly vulnerable, Central Asia is a clear example of the importance of cooperation on water resources to successfully maintain stability. It remains to be seen whether the key players in the region can agree on sustainable solutions., a key to peace and stability, or about the game around water will increase existing tensions and give rise to new conflicts.
