Tashkent to host third round of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan talks on the Koshtepa Canal

Ismatulla Irgashev, the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, emphasized Afghanistan's established right to use water from the Amu Darya under mutually agreed terms. “It is essential to note that Afghanistan and its people have a primary right to use the Amu Darya’s water. There are no issues or disagreements on this. The main question is the amount of water that should be drawn from the river,” he stated.

Irgashev also highlighted that a joint delegation was formed to oversee the Koshtepa Canal project. “So far, there have been two meetings, one in Kabul and another in Mazar-i-Sharif. The third meeting will soon take place in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent,” he added.

The first phase of Koshtepa Canal construction in Afghanistan was completed in mid-October 2023, taking 18 months to finish. The project, however, has sparked regional concerns due to its potential impact on water distribution in Central Asia.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has previously remarked that the canal could significantly alter the water regime and balance in Central Asia. Additionally, international natural resources and economics expert Rieks Bosch has noted that the Koshtepa Canal is expected to divert 20% of the Amu Darya’s flow, which could exacerbate water shortages in certain regions of Uzbekistan.