Uzbekistan and Taliban reach key agreement on use of Amu Darya water

north_east

Assessing the risk: Water shortage in Uzbekistan and Central Asia

On April 30, during a working visit to Afghanistan by an official delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jamshid Abduzukhurov, strategic agreements were reached regarding agriculture, water resource management, and trade and economic relations between the two countries. The Ministry of Agriculture reported the developments.

During a meeting with the governor of Balkh province, Haji Muhammad Yusuf Wafo, the parties discussed bilateral trade, the simplification of export-import procedures for agricultural products, plant quarantine issues, and the sustainable and joint management of water resources.

The Uzbek delegation also held substantive talks with the Taliban interim government's ministries of agriculture, water, and energy. As a result, an important agreement was signed on the joint management of the Amu Darya water basin, ensuring fair and rational use of the river’s resources.

“This document establishes not only bilateral cooperation but also outlines future joint approaches to environmental sustainability and transboundary water resource management in Central Asia. It can be said that this visit has opened a new chapter in good neighborly relations, economic integration, and water diplomacy with Afghanistan. This is also another significant step reflecting Uzbekistan’s commitment to regional peace, sustainable development, and environmental security,” the Ministry of Agriculture stated.

The ministry emphasized that all areas discussed—from agriculture and export-import procedures to quarantine regulations and water use—are expected to serve the interests of both nations and contribute positively to the region’s economic stability and environmental security.

It should be recalled that on March 1 of this year, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, met with a delegation led by Afghanistan’s Interim Minister of Trade, Nuriddin Azizi, during their visit to the Termez International Trade Center in Surkhandarya region.