Water conflicts put a strain on Central Asia's diplomacy

Water issues are increasingly becoming a central topic of regional diplomacy in Central Asia. This became clear at the fourth high-level international conference on the UN Decade of Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028, which took place this week in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe. On the one hand, the Central Asian states presented themselves as reliable partners in tackling common challenges. For example, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan presented a new agreement on the release of water from the strategically important Bahri-Tojik reservoir for the irrigation season from June to August 2026. On the other hand, existing tensions also came to light during the conference. Kyrgyzstan in particular made it clear that the distribution of costs and benefits in regional water management remains controversial. Kyrgyzstan calls for greater financial participation The government in Bishkek has been arguing for years that the downstream states - particularly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan - are not contributing enough to the financing of the water infrastructure from which they benefit considerably. In view of increasing water scarcity, climate change and accelerated glacier retreat in the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, this debate is becoming even more important. Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, reminded the participants of the central role played by the mountain regions in Central Asia's water supply. "Without glaciers, there is no water in the rivers, and without water in the rivers, there is no life in the valleys," explained Akunbekov. The melting of the glaciers not only affects individual countries, but is a challenge for the entire region. Kyrgyzstan has significant water resources, almost all of which originate on its territory. At the same time, the country only uses around a third of these resources itself, with the majority flowing to neighboring countries. Akunbekov emphasized that the maintenance of reservoirs, hydraulic structures and mountain ecosystems requires considerable financial resources. "We must honestly acknowledge that our country is currently not receiving adequate compensation for these services," he said. In 2025 alone, Kyrgyzstan invested around 80 million US dollars in its water sector. A large proportion of these funds went towards modernizing old infrastructure from the Soviet era. According to the Kyrgyz government, the region needs joint financing mechanisms and more modern, cross-border water management in the long term. Cooperation on irrigation Transboundary water resources are of crucial importance for agriculture in Central Asia. Many cultivation areas are dependent on water inflows from the mountain regions. Against this backdrop, the agreement on the Bahri-Tojik reservoir is seen as a positive signal for regional cooperation. During the summer months, additional water is to be fed into the Kazakh region of Turkestan in particular in order to meet the increasing demand for irrigation. The Kazakh Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, described the agreement as the result of constructive cooperation and mutual support within Central Asia. The measures taken should help to ensure irrigation during the growing season and stabilize agriculture in the affected regions. Afghanistan is changing the regional water balance In addition to the five Central Asian states, Afghanistan is increasingly coming into focus as an important player in regional water issues. The Amu Darya, one of the most important rivers in Central Asia, runs along Afghanistan's northern border. For decades, Afghanistan only played a limited role in the use of this water resource due to domestic political challenges. However, the government in Kabul is now pursuing ambitious plans for irrigation and agricultural development. At the center of these plans is the construction of the Qosh-Tepa Canal, a major project that could divert considerable amounts of water from the Amu-Darja in the future. Experts believe that the canal could use a considerable proportion of the river's water in the long term. This is being closely monitored in the Central Asian states, as it could change the availability of water for regions downstream. In recent months, the Taliban government and the neighboring Central Asian states have expanded their economic relations. Uzbekistan in particular is focusing on pragmatic cooperation with Kabul. Nevertheless, the question remains as to what impact the Qosh-Tepa Canal will have on water distribution in the region in the long term. Technical risks are an additional concern. Experts warn that inadequate construction quality could result in considerable water losses due to leaks. Water is becoming a strategic factor The conference in Dushanbe made it clear that water in Central Asia is no longer just an environmental or infrastructure issue. It is increasingly becoming a strategic resource that influences economic development, agriculture, energy supply and regional stability in equal measure. As climate change progresses, glaciers recede and the demand for water increases, the pressure on the countries in the region to find joint solutions is growing. The latest agreements show that cooperation is possible. At the same time, the debates on financing, infrastructure and new water projects make it clear that the challenges for regional water policy are likely to increase in the coming years. The post Water conflicts put a strain on Central Asia's diplomacy appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.