1. 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

2. Regional Consultations – Diverse Groups
Almaty, Kazakhstan April 2018

3. Regional Consultations – Diverse Groups
Dubai, UAE January 2019

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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. Due Diligence of Proposed Projects

9. 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Emerging trends that might render some old and tested technologies outdated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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. Thanks!