Dr. Hassan Abbas February 26, 2019 Capturing Opportunities and Managing Challenges: Cooperating in the Kabul River Basin for Afghanistan-Pakistan Water Relations Regional Consultations for Effective Policy Options for Management of the Kabul River Basin Dr. Hassan Abbas February 26, 2019

Regional Consultations – Diverse Groups Almaty, Kazakhstan April 2018

Regional Consultations – Diverse Groups Dubai, UAE January 2019

The Approach Benefit sharing Keeping basin integrity intact Knowledge based decision making

Insights Managing water resources as opposed to controlling water resources Sharing benefits as opposed to sharing water Always keep dialogue open Solutions based on research and transparent planning Consider cost of non-cooperation Economy integrated basin-wide

Resource Evaluation and Modeling Scientific studies using modern modeling techniques Use of satellite data set Preliminary results on impacts of climate change Increased peak flows Decreased mean flows Policy implications Structural interventions verses adaptation Multiple policies and responsive measures Tools and techniques for feasibility studies

Possible Projects for Benefit Sharing Diversions for agriculture Reservoirs for storage and water supply Hydropower Inland Navigation Fisheries Etc.

Due Diligence of Proposed Projects

Policy Recommendations No positions taken until a number of knowledge-based options are put together on the table and reviewed Emerging trends that might render some old and tested technologies outdated Transparent due diligence of all proposed projects Optimizing use of existing data until specific data sharing becomes critical Systematic and structured program for ‘capacity building and awareness’ for policy makers, researchers, think tanks and stakeholders etc.

Policy Recommendations Impacts of climate change and its implications on hydrologic regime Regional cooperation with Central Asian States can benefit both countries Exchange visits between stakeholders between the two countries All future dialogues to be based on information and data sharing

Way forward Develop sub groups on media, research, economics etc. Engaging in high quality collaborative researches and publishing in International journals that can contribute to our work related to science, economy, sociology and policy etc. Engagement of media from both sides More work on development of web-based DSS as the one already developed by IWMI Create small groups on both sides for exposure/exchange visits for academia and experts etc.

Way forward Broaden this constituency for cooperation and bring in more stakeholders that haven’t been part of our deliberations so far. Involve and invoke more interdisciplinary research Explore the ideas of making a river commission for the basin A third meeting to present, share and discuss the works of media, science and academic subgroups, followed by a clearer way forward and continuation of this discourse

Thanks!