The impact of water factor on security issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Аннотация

This article examines the importance of the SUBMITED 21 December 2024 water factor in the relations between the two countries, ACCEPTED 25 January 2025 PUBLISHED 27 February 2025 including the impact of the ongoing projects and VOLUME Vol.07 Issue02 2025 planned dams in the Kabul River basin, which flow through the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The CITATIO N article also discusses in detail the hydropower potential Sardor Rakhimov. (2025). The impact of water factor on security issues of these rivers and their strategic importance for between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The American Journal of Political Afghanistan and Pakistan. Science Law and Criminology, 7(02), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue02-04 Keywords: Water factor, water security, transboundary waters, hydropolitics, hydrogeography, Kabul River, COPYRIGHT Shahtoot Dam. © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. Introduction: The 21st century is considered by many analysts to be the century of water problems. This is because the availability of this important resource is decreasing worldwide due to population growth and climate change [1]. Indeed, water is not only an essential component of sustainable development, socio-economic progress and dynamic ecosystems, but also a vital need for humanity. It is crucial for human health, well-being and productivity. Therefore, water security is a key element of sustainable development. This means that countries must have sufficient and good quality water to carry out various productive activities. Water security enables a state to eliminate poverty and improve the living standards of its population [2]. Consequently, Ismail Serageldin, former Vice President of the World Bank, warned in 1995: “If the wars of the 20th century were fought over oil, the wars of the 21st century will be fought over water” [3]. According to the UN, 60 percent of the world’s freshwater flows are transboundary. 153 countries share part of their territory in at least one of 286 transboundary river and lake basins and 592 transboundary groundwater systems [4]. Of the 153 countries that share transboundary waters, only 43 have practical agreements covering 90 percent or more The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology 16 https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajpslc The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology of their shared rivers, lakes, and groundwater.[5] It is hydrogeography (water basins and rivers) of worth noting that Afghanistan is home to four major Afghanistan and its neighboring countries, the river systems: the Amu Darya, the Harirud-Murghab, groundwater geology of Afghanistan, the development the Helmand, and the Kabul Rivers [3]. These rivers of water resources in the Kabul River Basin, dams in cross international borders and flow into Tajikistan, Afghanistan, an analysis of Afghanistan's water treaties Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in the north, Iran and and relevant international water legislation, the Turkmenistan in the northwest, Iran in the southwest, hydropolitics of Afghan waters and its future, and the and Pakistan in the southeast and east. These rivers prospects for water management in Afghanistan: have been the foundation of human development in capacity development, risk assessment, cooperation, Asia for thousands of years. It is of great importance to and rational water management. study and research the water supply of Afghanistan A collection of articles entitled "Afghanistan-Pakistan and its neighboring countries - Pakistan, Iran, Water Sharing: The State of the Basins"[6] also explores Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. This will help a number of issues related to the topic. In particular, it prevent any future conflicts with neighboring countries contains the authors' analytical opinions on cooperation over the use of Afghanistan's water resources.[1] in the basins of rivers crossing the border between METHODS Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition, Taslim Malik's "The Pak-Afghan Water Issue: A Case for Benefit- A number of scholars have conducted scientific Sharing, Policy Perspectives"[3], Sajjad Ali Memon's research on the impact of the “water factor” on "The Kabul River: Hydropolitics of Pakistan- relations and security issues between states, and the Afghanistan"[7], Ravichandran Murthy and Sumayya importance of transboundary rivers, in particular, the Bibi's "Water Security and Cross-Border Water role of the “water factor” in Afghanistan-Pakistan Management in the Kabul River Basin"[2], and Fawad relations. In particular, the book “Transboundary Ali's "Decades on, Pakistan is still seeking a Kabul River Water Resources in Afghanistan: Implications of agreement"[8], elaborate on the impact of the "water Climate Change and Land Use [1]”, co-authored by factor" on security issues between Afghanistan and John Schroeder and Sher Jan Ahmadzai, of the Cen