82
Afghanistan-Pakistan Stakeholders
July 2018
Consultation on Benefit Sharing in
Kabul River Basin
Key Messages
Water Programme
æ Given the looming water crisis brewing
in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the
pressing need to address the concerns
of their rapidly growing populations, it
is pertinent to engage in mutually
beneficial and sustainable dialogue
Special Initiatives
across a range of platforms, in order to
foster sustainable benefit sharing of
the Kabul River between the two
countries.
æ There is a need for an integrated basin
Social Capital Development
wide approach to the management of
the Kabul waters, as this will create
many opportunities for both countries,
enhancing the economic growth and
wellbeing of their populations.
æ Given the concerns over reduced supply
of water resulting from infrastructure
projects such as dams, joint studies
Environmental Management
must be undertaken to establish
scientifically informed dialogue on this
front.
æ It is imperative that new channels of
communication that are mutually
beneficial to both countries be
strategically developed. Several ways
through which this can be achieved is
Climate Action Programme
by bringing speakers in from
Afghanistan, commissioning joint
studies, and conducting Knowledge
Management and Learning training
programmes.
www.lead.org.pk Inspiring leadership for a sustainable world
Policy Brief
Introduction:
Afghanistan and Pakistan are
neighboring countries located at the
crossroads of South Asia, China and
Central Asia. They share a 2670 km long
border and historic, ethnic, religious,
linguistic, and cultural affinities. The two
co u n t r i e s h a v e a m u l t i -fa ce t e d
relationship; Pakistan provides
indispensable access to the sea to land-
locked Afghanistan, which makes it one
of its largest trading partners. Pakistan
continues to host several million Afghan
refugees and extends educational and
health facilities to a large number of
Afghans. Afghanistan and Pakistan do not
only share a 2600 km long boundary, but
they also share the Kabul River which
meanders through the rugged terrain of
the Afghan-Pak border. Both countries
are water stressed, but despite this, they
have not been able to tap the potential to
conserve this precious yet rapidly
depleting resource. Unfortunately, the
simmering water resource stress in the
region is rarely noted, let alone factored
into the causes of local unrest. As the
water use demands of Afghanistan and
Pakistan starts to escalate in coming
decades, and as climate changes affect
patterns of water availability the strain on
the Kabul River Basin will be become
more pronounced. Owing to outstanding
political differences and distrust marking
Pak-Afghan relations, the two countries
have not yet realized the full potential of
mutual ly beneficial cooperation,
including the mutual development,
management and utilization of the
shared river, especially the Kabul River
Basin (KRB). Thus, given the looming
water crisis brewing in both countries,
and the pressing need to address the
concerns of their rapidly growing
populations, it is pertinent to engage in
mutually beneficial and sustainable
dialogue across a range of platforms, in
LEAD Pakistan #13, Second Floor, Executive Complex, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92 (51) 2651511, Fax: +92(51) 2340058, Email: main@lead.org.pk
order to foster sustainable benefit
sharing of the Kabul River between the
two countries.
Benefit Sharing of Kabul
River between Afghanistan
and Pakistan:
There are ample opportunities for
mutually beneficial water-related
cooperation between Afghanistan and
Pakistan, including jointly building and
managing hydropower plants. Other
avenues for cooperation include jointly
building and maintaining infrastructure
for carrying out irrigation and agricultural
development. The monitoring of river
flows and sharing of information for
coping with more frequent floods and
droughts as a result of climate change
can also be jointly undertaken, thereby
protecting the sustainability of the
watershed of the Kabul Basin. The
success of a water dialogue between
Afghanistan and Pakistan is predicated on
the political commitment of their leaders
and serious efforts by their senior
officials, which will also require financial,
technical and intellectual assistance by
the international community. There is
also a need for an integrated basin wide
approach to the management of the
Kabul waters, as this will create many
opportunities for both countries,
enhancing the economic growth and
wellbeing of their populations. The
multipurpose dams on the Kabul River, if
designed and operated with mutual
understanding, can help to control
flooding in regions like Nowshera and
Kurram, store and regulate the release of
floodwater during lean water months,
and generate electricity that can be
mutually shared. The two countries can
also work together to increase the
efficiency of utilization of water,
offsetting the increase in demand.
 Policy Brief
In order to facilitate a policy-based discourse on the
aforementioned subject, LEAD Pakistan carried out a Pak-
Afghan Stakeholders Consultation from 12-14 April, 2018 in
Almaty, Kazakhstan. The aim of these consultation meetings
was to engage a bilateral audience and jointly explore avenues
of cooperation on Pak-Afghan water sharing and management
of the Kabul River Basin. The Consultation brought together a
host of experts from Afghanistan and Pakistan, hailing from
different background such as academia, the private sector, the
government, policy makers, officials from other embassies etc.
They were all brought together on the same platform with two
main objectives:
1. Exploring possible avenues of cooperation and mutually
beneficial uses for both Afghanistan and Pakistan decision
makers, based on the concept of benefit sharing on the waters
of Kabul River Basin.
2. Proposing an integrated basin wide approach to guide policy
making in the management, governance, and development of
the Kabul River Basin.
The involved parties discussed possible ways of cooperation
and mutually beneficial partnership in the basin of the
transboundary river Kabul. They highlighted the need for both
countries to work towards overcoming the lack of trust
between each other and develop strong political commitment.
The representatives of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed that
the absence of an agreement on the use of the waters of the
Kabul River basin was also not profitable for either side.
Based on the consultation meetings, following are some key
policy recommendations that were proposed forward by the
involved stakeholders:
Afghanistan-Pakistan Stakeholders Consultation on Benefit Sharing in Kabul River Basin
Key Policy Recommendations:
1. Strengthening policy and institutional frameworks for water:
Both countries must strengthen appropriate institutions and
policy frameworks to enable greater coordination and
improved management. Given the concerns over reduced
supply of water resulting from infrastructure projects such as
dams, joint studies must be undertaken to establish
scientifically informed dialogue on this front.
2. Identify Opportunities for Benefit Sharing: Water is a flexible
resource that may be utilized for multiple purposes throughout
the basin. Presently, there are few spaces to discuss trans-
boundary water issues or benefit sharing opportunities to
achieve win-win outcomes in the two countries. The parties
involved must shift a focus from treaty-oriented discussion and
establish more dialogue platforms in order to identify
opportunities for benefit-sharing, which will help build trust
and cooperation on the Kabul River Basin (KRB). In addition,
this will help change the mindset of the political leadership
towards working on mutually beneficial projects. A deeper
understanding of the issues may enable both parties not to
cause significant harm to the other and to use surface water
and groundwater conjunctively while ensuring a regular
exchange of data and introducing a system of negotiating
differences in planned measures.
3. Establish a Joint-Institution: Currently, Pakistan and
Afghanistan do not have any formal institutional arrangements
for mutual consultations to promote cooperation or sharing of
knowledge and information on water. Although periodic
discussion have been held at forums such as at the World Bank
or USAID, relevant think tanks and academic institutions, there
still needs to be a specific forum for Pakistan-Afghanistan
Dialogue in order to initiate cooperation and understanding of
water issues in the region. The mandate of this joint institution

is to promote cooperation, share data and knowledge,
facilitate mutual interaction and prepare schemes and
projects for benefit sharing. The 11th session of the JEC
should also be convened at the earliest to finalize the
composition of the joint working group already agreed at the
Commission's 9th and 10th sessions to consider
collaboration on the Kunar Hydropower Project. Moreover, in
order to promote understanding and goodwill, a focal point
commission such as the Kabul River Commission should be
created on the pattern of the Mekong River Commission. Not
only will this be a vehicle for information sharing and
promoting mutual interactions, but it should be required to
prepare a sustainable plan of mutual cooperation
overcoming the challenges faced by both countries on water
sharing.
4. Role of Development Partners: International partners such
as UN agencies, USAID, DFAT, UKAid, scientific and technical
bodies; multilateral agencies outside the UN system such as
the World Bank, Asian Development Bank must support the
Afghan-Pakistan dialogue and negotiations by providing
technical and intellectual backstopping, including collection
and sharing of data relevant to water resource management.
These agencies must also provide funding as needed for
both the activities of the governments as well as programs
of training, capacity building, exchange visits, knowledge
enhancement, researchers. They should also support the
civil society and think thanks for promoting understanding of
water issues, concept of benefit sharing and track ii
diplomacy.
5. Changing Public Perceptions: Media has a critical role in
bringing the people and governments of Afghanistan and
Pakistan closer to ensure success of the efforts for water
diplomacy and transboundary water management. There is
a need to build a new narrative on Pak-Afghan water
diplomacy. In order to achieve this, the media must be
actively involved and play its due role in shifting the
mindsets of not just the government, but other stakeholders,
such as research community, civil society and general public.
Through media campaigns and events, it can contribute
towards creating awareness and act as a watchdog with
regard to shared resource management for both countries.
The media can also share reports of such events with wide
audience opening up avenues of water discourse amongst a
broad range of stakeholders.
6. Interaction Between Public Representatives: Legislators
should regularly visit their Afghan political counterparts, as
this will pave way for further engagement on mutual water
resource challenges, as well as opportunities. It will also help
to gradually overcome the feeling of mistrust and foster
better understanding and Track II diplomacy.
7. Data and Information Sharing: A web-based shared
repository of information and data related to Kabul River
Basin must be jointly developed and maintained, comprising
transparently compiled report, studies, maps and data. Past
problems between both countries should be put behind,
since space monitored data is now readily available which
Afghanistan-Pakistan Stakeholders Consultation on Benefit Sharing in Kabul River Basin
Policy Brief
must take us forward and prepare options of cooperation.
We must also create knowledge forums for information
sharing based on which we can develop concrete plans and
actions for the future.
8. Foster Stronger Channels of Symbiotic Engagement: One
of the key reasons for mistrust on both sides of the border
regarding the Kabul River is due to the poor and irregular
exchange of ideas and views between both countries. It is
imperative that new channels of communication that are
mutually beneficial to both countries be strategically
developed. Several ways through which this can be achieved
is by bringing speakers in from Afghanistan, commissioning
joint studies, and conducting KM&L training programmes.
Joint training programmes are suggested to be done over a
wide period of time in order to prepare a group of
stakeholders to become well sensitized on the issues from
different sectors such as the private sector, media,
academia, civil society etc. This will ensure that a community
of practice is constituted in each country, and linkages are
established with their counterparts in order to develop
cohorts with new day professional and leaders who are
sensitized about the water issues.
9. Develop Platforms for Dialogue Between Key
Stakeholders: Efforts need to be undertaken in order to
enhance interactions at the expert, civil society and
academia levels. Both governments should facilitate such
activities and set aside adequate funds to do so. This will help
promote confidence building and knowledge sharing
activities. The government must also strive to empower the
Afghan and Pakistan colleges and universities as well as
agricultural research organization engaged in water-related
activities. Academia and researchers should collaborate in
research and scholastic pursuits, prepare demonstration
projects, undertake joint research activities and show case
county expertise.
Conclusion:
There are promising prospects of cooperation between
Pakistan and Afghanistan on water sharing agreements. In
order to achieve this, however, the two countries must be
kind and forbearing with each other, and take into account
the principles of earlier international conventions, accords
and agreements and become a signatory to these where
possible. Pakistan and Afghanistan should keep up
diplomatic efforts and exchanges, including people-to-
people contact, regular stakeholder consultations and Track II
diplomacy measures, to ensure trust building as the first step
towards more comprehensive negotiations on the prospects
of mutual benefit-sharing. Lastly, it must be understood that
the success of a water dialogue concerning the Kabul Basin
relies on the political commitment of their leaders and
serious efforts by senior officials, and this calls for financial,
technical and intellectual assistance by the international
community in overcoming the impediments towards
mutually beneficial cooperation between Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
Transboundary Waters

About this Publication Acknowledgement

The policy brief aims to give an overview of the discussions that took place in the Pak-Afghan The authors appreciate the valuable
stakeholder consultation in Almaty, Kazakhstan from April 12 to April 14, 2018 under the PEER Project insight and feedback provided by the
'Using water resources systems analysis to guide transboundary Kabul River water partnership' and participants at the Stakeholder
the joint effort by host of experts from Afghanistan and Pakistan to explore avenues of cooperation Consultation in Almaty and also
on water sharing and management of the Kabul River Basin. The brief also provides an insight into acknowledge the support of the
Sustainable Cities

the key policy recommendations proposed by the involved stakeholders to ensure the success of a colleagues at LEAD Pakistan. We would
water dialogue between the two countries. further like to acknowledge Ali Tauqeer
Sheikh (CEO), Ms Hina Lotia (Director
Programmes), and Bilal Khalid (Focal
Person Water Programme), LEAD
Pakistan, for their continuous support and
Resilience

encouragement.
Pakistan 2047

Writer: Sofia Masood, Focal

Low Carbon Development

Person, Water
Programme

Editor: Aleena Humayun, Focal

Person, Water
Programme
Knowledge Hub on SDGs

Designer: Abbas Mushtaq, Focal

Person, Knowledge
Management

Produced by: Learning and Knowledge

Management
Groundwater and Droughts

About LEAD Pakistan Copyrights

Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan, is a think tank that You may quote or reproduce materials from
focuses on policy research, public policy engagement, and capability development in the this publication with due acknowledgement
to LEAD Pakistan, unless indicated otherwise.
public, private and non-government sectors. In addition to its Leadership Development
Programme (since 1995), Climate Action Programme (since 2007), and Water For more policy briefs visit our website
Programme (since 2014), LEAD Pakistan launched three special initiatives in 2015: http://www.lead.org.pk
Environmental Management Systems

Pakistan - Towards 2047; Tracking SDGs; and Sustainable Cities. These strategic
programmes aim to shape the development discourse in Pakistan and to ensure that the Suggestions
Federal and Provincial governments' development agendas are in line with global trends LEAD Pakistan welcomes corrections and
and commitments. comments on its publications. Please feel free
to send comments on content, including
LEAD Pakistan has been pursuing an ambitious research agenda (policy as well as action typography, formatting, or other errors.
research) regarding various dimensions of climate change, environment, water, Simply copy the page, mark the error, and
governance, health, and education, among other sectors. In addition to demand driven send it to Focal Person Publications on the
research, LEAD Pakistan generates knowledge products, including case studies from its postal address given below or email at
com@lead.org.pk
project interventions and key learnings from its events and activities, to keep the
national and international development discourse evolving.
Contact us
DRR

LEAD Pakistan #13, Second Floor, Executive

With a history of successful delivery of more than 190 development initiatives across 20
Complex, G-8 Markaz,
years, we look forward to enhancing our impact on development in Pakistan, the region Islamabad, Pakistan
Climate Finance Readiness

and beyond. T: +92 (051) 2651511

F: +92 (051) 2340058
E: main@lead.org.pk
Disclaimer W: www.lead.org.pk
The information contained in this policy brief is mostly obtained from secondary /leadpakistan
resources and views of the faculty, which may not necessarily be aligned with LEAD
Pakistan's official position on specific issues.