In a significant step toward regional water cooperation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have signed a protocol for the shared operation of the Bahri Tochik Water Reservoir from June to August 2025, during the region’s critical vegetation and irrigation period.
The agreement was formalized in Dubai on the sidelines of the International Glaciers Protection Conference, Kazinform News Agency reported.
The accord was signed by the water resources ministers of the three Central Asian nations and outlines a detailed schedule for water usage and distribution, aimed at ensuring equitable and efficient allocation among the riparian states.
Under the protocol, Kazakhstan will receive 491 million cubic meters of water during the peak agricultural season. The agreement seeks to mitigate regional water stress and improve coordination amid increasing climate variability and demand on shared river systems.
Regional Collaboration Amid Climate Challenges
“Kazakhstan is committed to the implementation of joint water management projects and the promotion of international water law principles,” said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources. “Only through cooperation can we effectively respond to climate challenges.”
The Bahri Tochik reservoir, located in Tajikistan, plays a pivotal role in supplying water downstream to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, especially during the dry summer months. The protocol reflects a broader effort among Central Asian states to depoliticize water sharing and adopt cooperative mechanisms for sustainable transboundary water management.
A Broader Context of Regional Engagement
This trilateral agreement follows recent discussions in Tashkent, where the energy and water ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan convened to address the interconnected operation of water and energy systems. The talks centered on minimizing disruptions during summer and optimizing resource use amid declining glacier-fed river flows.
As climate change continues to impact Central Asia’s freshwater availability, particularly from melting glaciers, regional frameworks like this protocol are seen as essential to maintaining agricultural productivity and avoiding tensions over shared water assets.
The agreement on Bahri Tochik is a notable example of pragmatic diplomacy in a region often challenged by complex water politics, and it may serve as a model for further cross-border cooperation on resource management.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed confidence on Thursday that NATO allies will agree to President Donald Trump’s call for a sharp increase in defence spending, signalling a potential shift in transatlantic security priorities ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague.
A Russian drone strike killed the wife, daughter, and infant grandson of a fire chief in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, as Moscow intensified overnight attacks on civilian areas, including the city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine's military says it has preemptively struck Russian missile systems in Russia’s Bryansk region, thwarting what it claims was an imminent attack on Kyiv.
As EU ministers debate potential changes to air passenger compensation laws, European airlines face a critical choice: cut costs or protect customer trust in an era where disruption is inevitable—and loyalty is everything.
A joyous cricket celebration turned tragic in Bengaluru as a crowd surge outside the stadium left at least 11 dead and dozens injured.
Amid renewed global scrutiny, Iran reflects on defining moments that shaped its revolutionary identity, invoking the past to reinforce its stance in current geopolitical disputes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed confidence on Thursday that NATO allies will agree to President Donald Trump’s call for a sharp increase in defence spending, signalling a potential shift in transatlantic security priorities ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague.
A Russian drone strike killed the wife, daughter, and infant grandson of a fire chief in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, as Moscow intensified overnight attacks on civilian areas, including the city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine's military says it has preemptively struck Russian missile systems in Russia’s Bryansk region, thwarting what it claims was an imminent attack on Kyiv.
As EU ministers debate potential changes to air passenger compensation laws, European airlines face a critical choice: cut costs or protect customer trust in an era where disruption is inevitable—and loyalty is everything.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
Azerbaijan has been officially announced as the host country for World Environment Day in 2026 during a UNEP event held on South Korea’s Jeju Island.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a two-day official visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties and discussing key regional issues with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Amid renewed global scrutiny, Iran reflects on defining moments that shaped its revolutionary identity, invoking the past to reinforce its stance in current geopolitical disputes.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed bilateral cooperation and regional connectivity in a phone call on June 4, ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to coordinate efforts in monitoring and controlling locust infestations along their shared border, as concerns mount over potential threats to regional agriculture.
Amid renewed global scrutiny, Iran reflects on defining moments that shaped its revolutionary identity, invoking the past to reinforce its stance in current geopolitical disputes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed confidence on Thursday that NATO allies will agree to President Donald Trump’s call for a sharp increase in defence spending, signalling a potential shift in transatlantic security priorities ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague.
A Russian drone strike killed the wife, daughter, and infant grandson of a fire chief in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, as Moscow intensified overnight attacks on civilian areas, including the city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine's military says it has preemptively struck Russian missile systems in Russia’s Bryansk region, thwarting what it claims was an imminent attack on Kyiv.
As EU ministers debate potential changes to air passenger compensation laws, European airlines face a critical choice: cut costs or protect customer trust in an era where disruption is inevitable—and loyalty is everything.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment