Trans-Boundary Water Conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan and Need of Water Treaty on Kabul River
Publisher: International Review of Basic and Applied Sciences
Author(s): Wisal Shah and Muhammad Nafees
Date: 2020
Topics: Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Governance, Renewable Resources
Countries: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
In Pakistan water availability decreased by 78.4% over the past six decades. To avoid threats to food security linked with water scarcity, Pakistan needs to plan its available water resources aggressively. Afghanistan and Pakistan share an Indus River tributary since the Kabul River, the building of 12 dams challenge is a more important issue compared to the Indo-Pak one. Both countries need to reach a water agreement after the issue of 12 dams feeding from Kabul River and it should serve as the spark to boost the positive relation rather being a reference point about India’s assistance in developmental projects in Afghanistan. The objective of this paper is to explore and document the Trans-boundary water issues/conflicts and its analysis for seeking out suitable solutions. For this purpose relevant documents were reviewed. This paper summarizes various approaches uses for the allocation of Trans-boundary water resources. Out of which two different doctrines are leads to possible solution for Trans-boundary water disputes i.e; prior appropriation and riparian rights. As Kabul River is in use for the last so many centuries, therefore the situation will prefer prior- appropriation. But Pakistan can also come under the concept of riparian rights. . It is concluded that treaties is a soft and viable solution of Trans-boundary water conflicts.