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Hydro-diplomacy for Water Cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan By: Ashfaq Mahmood 3 June 2014. Organization of Presentation. Water Resources of Kabul River Potential Projects by Afghanistan on Kabul River Pakistan’s Vulnerability Climate Change Conflict Potential
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Hydro-diplomacy for Water Cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan By: Ashfaq Mahmood 3 June 2014
Organization of Presentation • Water Resources of Kabul River • Potential Projects by Afghanistan on Kabul River • Pakistan’s Vulnerability • Climate Change • Conflict Potential • Hydro-diplomacy for Water Cooperation
Pakistan’s Vulnerability on Kabul River • Water Contribution to Indus = 23.5 bm3(19) MAF • Water Received at the Border =19.3 bm3 (15.6 MAF) • Contribution of Chitral River = 10.5 bm3 (8.5 MAF) • Contribution from Kabul and other Tributaries = 8.8 bm3 (7.1 MAF) • Projected Future Use Potential in Afghanistan = 3.8 bm3 (3.1 MAF) • Net Future Availability across the border = 15.4 bm3(12.5 MAF) • Existing Rabi and Kharif uses will suffer.
Effects of Climate Change • Glaciers in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains shrunk by 30 % in the last half century • Rising temperatures/global warming will result in at least 10% reduction in precipitation in the next 50 Years. • Increased summer flows in shorter time spans accentuating floods in next few years. It will be followed by shortages in the long run. • Poverty, food and electricity prices, urban migration affecting millions of people on the cards. • At present severe drought at least once in 10-15 years. This frequency will in increase.
Conflict Potential • Threat to Existing Uses in Pakistan • 13 potential dams in Afghanistan with storage capacity of 4.93 bm3 (4 MAF). Early Kharif and Rabi crops likely to suffer • Rising water demand in Afghanistan for urban, mining, irrigation and environmental flow (3.9 billion m3/year) • Threat of climate change—scarcity. Major brunt to be faced by Pakistan. • Possible diversion of Chitral River by Pakistan • Poor watershed management • Lack of hydro metrological data gathering and sharing • Lack of studies on ground water. • Outside Promptings, vested interests.
Hydro-Diplomacy with Afghanistan • Promote Cooperation and Equitable Sharing of Benefits: • Forming Stake Holder’s Fraternity, exchange visits and interactions • Sharing of Knowledge and Experience • Joint Projects , Joint Ventures, Joint Studies • Extend Supporting Hand, establishing water institutions, • Data Collection and Management • Funding for cooperative activities • Media Management • Institutional Arrangements- - The Driver of Cooperation: • Afghan Cell with appropriate funding and staff (re-locate) • Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Commission for Water Cooperation • Formulation of Treaty/Agreement in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and understanding.
Conclusions • Embark upon a Water Cooperation Initiative to precede negotiations of Treaty. • Set up Joint Commission. • Provide funds to support cooperative activities.