Central Asia is home to sixty-one million citizens spread across five countries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan. As the chart below illustrates, there is a high level of poverty in the region. The notable exception, in terms of economic performance, is Kazakhstan, which has relatively low poverty levels and the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita due to their large fossil fuel reserves.
Lack of cooperation and regional dialogue in Central Asia is a problem for the region. However, one conflict area deserves special attention: water. Regional cooperation on water management is both a multi-faceted and complex issue. The two main sources of water in Central Asia are the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers (see slideshow below), which is the larger of the two. The Amu Darya originates in Tajikistan and flows along the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and goes through Turkmenistan before returning to Uzbekistan and discharging in the Aral Sea. When combined, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers have about 77 cubic kilometers of water, 96 percent of which is used for irrigation.Other major inter-state rivers include Chu, Talas, Tarim, and Irtysh.
Lack of cooperation and regional dialogue in Central Asia is a problem for the region. However, one conflict area deserves special attention: water. Regional cooperation on water management is both a multi-faceted and complex issue. The two main sources of water in Central Asia are the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers (see slideshow below), which is the larger of the two. The Amu Darya originates in Tajikistan and flows along the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and goes through Turkmenistan before returning to Uzbekistan and discharging in the Aral Sea. When combined, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers have about 77 cubic kilometers of water, 96 percent of which is used for irrigation.Other major inter-state rivers include Chu, Talas, Tarim, and Irtysh.
At the heart of the problem of lack of cooperation and dialogue on regional water management are conflicting interests in how these water resources are to be used and whether they are seen as a commodity or public good. Downstream countries, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, are dependent on irrigated agriculture, whereas upstream countries, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, are focused on expanding reservoir capacity and hydroelectric power generation.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent states decided to pursue their own diverging national interests. Although the countries decided to sign the 1992 Almaty Agreement and maintain Soviet Union water quotas, it is now outdated and thus, limited in its effectiveness. Regional and international efforts have failed to find a lasting solution because of the mistrust and low political will to cooperate among the Central Asian leaders. Other contributing factors include crumbling infrastructure due to economic conditions within the countries, unequal distribution of natural resources and climate change.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent states decided to pursue their own diverging national interests. Although the countries decided to sign the 1992 Almaty Agreement and maintain Soviet Union water quotas, it is now outdated and thus, limited in its effectiveness. Regional and international efforts have failed to find a lasting solution because of the mistrust and low political will to cooperate among the Central Asian leaders. Other contributing factors include crumbling infrastructure due to economic conditions within the countries, unequal distribution of natural resources and climate change.
Source: The Water Crisis in Asia: Key Challenges and Opportunities. Available at http://milanoschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Water-Crisis-CA-12.15-final-presentation.pdf