Political Science Law
OPEN ACCESS
The impact of water factor on security issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan
DOI
Crossref DOI
10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue02-04
tajpslc
2025
VOL. 7
/ NO. 02
FEBRUARY
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
Abstract
This article examines the importance of the water factor in the relations between the two countries, including the impact of the ongoing projects and planned dams in the Kabul River basin, which flow through the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The article also discusses in detail the hydropower potential of these rivers and their strategic importance for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
RESEARCH TOPICS
Keywords
Water factor
water security
transboundary waters
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
SOURCES & SCHOLARSHIP
References
- Shroder J. and Ahmadzai Sh.J. (2016) Transboundary water resources in Afghanistan climate change and land-use implications. Center for Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE.
- Moorthy, R.; Bibi, S. (2023) Water Security and Cross-Border Water Management in the Kabul River Basin. Sustainability, 15, 792. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010792
- Malik T. (2019) Pak-Afghan Water Issue: A Case for Benefit-Sharing. Policy Perspectives, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 77-98. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/polipers.16.1.0077
- “Transboundary Waters” (2021) UN Water. Retrieved from https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/transboundary-waters
- Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation – 2024 Update (01 October 2024) UN Water. Retrieved from https://www.unwater.org/publications/progress-transboundary-water-cooperation-2024-update
- Ali Shah M.A., Lautze J., Meelad A. Afghanistan-Pakistan Shared Waters: State of the Basins. CABI digital library. Retrieved from https://www.hidropolitikakademi.org/uploads/editor/images/afghanistan-pakistan-shared-waters-state-of-the-basins.pdf
- Memon S.A. (December 18, 2024) River Kabul: Pak-Afghan Hydropolitics. Pakistan Today. Retrieved from https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/12/18/river-kabul-pak-afghan-hydropolitics/
- Fawad A. (May 5, 2022) Decades on, Pakistan is still seeking a Kabul River agreement. Dialogue Earth. Retrieved from https://dialogue.earth/en/water/decades-on-pakistan-still-seeking-kabul-river-agreement%EF%BF%BC/#:~:text=A%20view%20of%20the%20Attock,to%20be%20made%20on%20negotiations
- Pakistan concerned over plan to build dams on Kabul River. (26.09.2016) Hidropolitik Akademi. Retrieved from https://www.hidropolitikakademi.org/en/news-detail/14209/pakistan-concerned-over-plan-to-build-dams-on-kabul-river
- Ghai R. (29 Apr 2024) Amu Darya and Kabul river basins major sources of water for Afghanistan: Study. DownToEarth. Retrieved from https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/amu-darya-and-kabul-river-basins-major-sources-of-water-for-afghanistan-study-95861#:~:text=The%20last%20basin%2C%20the%20KRB%2C%20is%20mainly,flows%20eastward%20to%20join%20the%20Indus%20river
- Mohmand R.Sh. (December 29, 2019) Water sharing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Tribune. Retrieved from https://tribune.com.pk/story/2126658/water-sharing-afghanistan-pakistan
- The Taliban’s Neighborhood: Regional Diplomacy with Afghanistan (30 January 2024) Crisis Group Asia Report N°337. Page 22
- Debates R. (Oct 16, 2021) Afghanistan and the region’s future is tied to Hydro-Diplomacy. Observer Research Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/afghanistan-and-the-regions-future-is-tied-to-hydro-diplomacy
- Hessami E. (November 13, 2018) Afghanistan’s Rivers Could Be India’s Next Weapon Against Pakistan. Foreign policy. Retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/11/13/afghanistans-rivers-could-be-indias-next-weapon-against-pakistan-water-wars-hydropower-hydrodiplomacy/