The Taliban’s New Canal Threatens Water Security in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Jul 5, 2023 | Niginakhon Saida
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On March 30, 2022, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar launched the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal, which will divert significant amount of water from the Amu Darya – a transboundary river that Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan heavily depend on. One third of the 285-kilometer project is already completed. With over 6,000 workers deployed, the Qosh Tepa canal is to be finished in five years. It will reportedly use up to a third of the Amu Darya’s water, creating an imminent challenge to downstream countries, especially Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.