Water Resources Management in Afghanistan: the Issues and Options
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Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces
European Asylum Support Office Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces Country of Origin Information Report August 2020 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces Country of Origin Information Report August 2020 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9485-650-0 doi: 10.2847/115002 BZ-02-20-565-EN-N © European Asylum Support Office (EASO) 2020 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: © Al Jazeera English, Helmand, Afghanistan 3 November 2012, url CC BY-SA 2.0 Taliban On the Doorstep: Afghan soldiers from 215 Corps take aim at Taliban insurgents. 4 — AFGHANISTAN: STATE STRUCTURE AND SECURITY FORCES - EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT Acknowledgements This report was drafted by the European Asylum Support Office COI Sector. The following national asylum and migration department contributed by reviewing this report: The Netherlands, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis, Ministry of Justice It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, it but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. AFGHANISTAN: STATE STRUCTURE AND SECURITY -
In the Hari River Basin, with Re-Validation of P. Turcomana
Journal of Applied Biological Sciences 9 (3): 01-05, 2015 ISSN: 1307-1130, E-ISSN: 2146-0108, www.nobel.gen.tr Taxonomic Status of the Genus Paraschistura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) in the Hari River Basin, with Re-validation of P. turcomana Hamed MOUSAVI SABET1* Saber VATANDOUST2 Arash JOULADEH ROUDBAR3 Soheil EAGDERI4 1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran 2Department of Fisheries, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran 3Department Fisheries, Sari University of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources, Mazandran, Iran 4Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran *Corresponding author: Received: July 12, 2015 Email: [email protected] Accepted: August 23, 2015 Abstract The genus Paraschistura in the Hari River basin is reviewed, and diagnoses are presented for all the three recognized species. Paraschistura cristata and P. turcmenica are considered valid; and P. turcomana is revalidated. Paraschistura turcomana is a poorly known species from the Kushk River in the Murghab drainage at the border of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, its validity has been questioned and a synonymy with P. turcmenica has been suggested. In this study, we compare P. turcmenica with the syntypes of P. turcomana. A comparison with the related taxa P. cristata and P. turcmenica reveals that P. turcomana can be separated from them by 7½ branched rays in dorsal fin, scaleless body, elongated and shallow body, shallow caudal peduncle, and colour pattern including obvious dark cross bars. The presence of two additional undescribed species is suggested from the basin. Keywords: Freshwater Fishes, Loach, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan. -
Features of Identity of the Population of Afghanistan
SHS Web of Conferences 50, 01236 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20185001236 CILDIAH-2018 Features of Identity of the Population of Afghanistan Olga Ladygina* Department of History and International Relations, Russian-Tajik Slavonic University, M.Tursunzoda str., 30, Dushanbe, 734025, Tajikistan Abstract. The issues of identity of the population of Afghanistan, which is viewed as a complex self- developing system with the dissipative structure are studied in the article. The factors influencing the development of the structure of the identity of the society of Afghanistan, including natural and geographical environment, social structure of the society, political factors, as well as the features of the historically established economic and cultural types of the population of Afghanistan, i.e. the Pashtuns and Tajiks are described. The author of the article compares the mental characteristics of the bearers of agriculture and the culture of pastoralists and nomads on the basis of description of cultivated values and behavior stereotypes. The study of the factors that influence the formation of the identity of the Afghan society made it possible to justify the argument about the prevalence of local forms of identity within the Afghan society. It is shown that the prevalence of local forms of identity results in the political instability. Besides, it constrains the process of development of national identity and articulation of national idea which may ensure the society consolidation. The relevance of such studies lies in the fact that today one of the threats of Afghanistan is the separatist sentiments coming from the ethnic political elites, which, in turn, negatively affects the entire political situation in the region and can lead to the implementation of centrifugal scenarios in the Central Asian states. -
BACKGROUNDER Military a Nalysis Andeducation for Civilian Leaders June 10, 2010
INSTITUTE FOR THE Jeffrey Dressler STUDY of WAR BACKGROUNDER Military A nalysis andEducation for Civilian Leaders June 10, 2010 Will the Marines Push into Northern Helmand? Northern Helmand may be the next focal point narcotics network and home to large contingents of of U. S. and British efforts in the province, just enemy fighters, IED manufacturing compounds, four months after U.S. Marines launched the and weapons storage caches.4 Sangin and Kajaki massive Operation Moshtarak in Marjah in central initially became hotspots for the Taliban after Helmand.1 This effort, which would be significantly they were driven from Musa Qala in December smaller in size and scope than Marjah, would 2007. Since then, the Taliban have expanded their concentrate on the troublesome districts of Kajaki presence and run mobile courts and effective shadow and Sangin in northeastern Helmand. governance structures in the districts, offering popular and effective services for the population.5 Speaking to reporters in London on June 7, U.S. Taliban elements operate relatively undisturbed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he discussed in the dense agricultural expanse that surrounds the possibility of sending more U.S. forces to both banks of the Helmand River to the south and northeastern Helmand.2 However, Gates noted that north of Sangin. Afghan, U.S., and coalition forces any final decision would be up to General Stanley in the area have been able to conduct only limited McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces patrolling beyond the district centers and the area in Afghanistan. surrounding the Kajaki dam, which provides power for much of Helmand and portions of Kandahar. -
Watershed Atlas Part IV
PART IV 99 DESCRIPTION PART IV OF WATERSHEDS I. MAP AND STATISTICS BY WATERSHED II. AMU DARYA RIVER BASIN III. NORTHERN RIVER BASIN IV. HARIROD-MURGHAB RIVER BASIN V. HILMAND RIVER BASIN VI. KABUL (INDUS) RIVER BASIN VII. NON-DRAINAGE AREAS PICTURE 84 Aerial view of Panjshir Valley in Spring 2003. Parwan, 25 March 2003 100 I. MAP AND STATISTICS BY WATERSHED Part IV of the Watershed Atlas describes the 41 watersheds Graphs 21-32 illustrate the main characteristics on area, popu- defined in Afghanistan, which includes five non-drainage areas lation and landcover of each watershed. Graph 21 shows that (Map 10 and 11). For each watershed, statistics on landcover the Upper Hilmand is the largest watershed in Afghanistan, are presented. These statistics were calculated based on the covering 46,882 sq. km, while the smallest watershed is the FAO 1990/93 landcover maps (Shapefiles), using Arc-View 3.2 Dasht-i Nawur, which covers 1,618 sq. km. Graph 22 shows that software. Graphs on monthly average river discharge curve the largest number of settlements is found in the Upper (long-term average and 1978) are also presented. The data Hilmand watershed. However, Graph 23 shows that the largest source for the hydrological graph is the Hydrological Year Books number of people is found in the Kabul, Sardih wa Ghazni, of the Government of Afghanistan – Ministry of Irrigation, Ghorband wa Panjshir (Shomali plain) and Balkhab watersheds. Water Resources and Environment (MIWRE). The data have Graph 24 shows that the highest population density by far is in been entered by Asian Development Bank and kindly made Kabul watershed, with 276 inhabitants/sq. -
Water, Peace and Capacity Building
Welcome Water, Peace and capacity building Amir Haidari, Delft University of technology Table of Content Introduction Afghanistan Water Challenges Possible solution Summary Afghanistan A Short Introduction Location - Landlocked country NL - Strategically located - ¾ is covered with mountain AFG Afghanistan 4 A Short Introduction Mountains: source of wealth • Hindukush: Continuation of Himalia • Source of precious stones such as: – Emerald, ruby, sapphire, Lazuli (for making ornaments) – Uranium, Lithium (Arabia of Uranium and Lithium) • Main source of water (80%) in the summer and winter Water in Afghanistan A very short summary River Basins in Afghanistan Name of River Biggest Important Basin river stakeholder(s) Kabul Kabul Pakistan Helmand Helmand Iran Hari_rood (Hari Hari_rood Iran / river) Turkmenistan Shomali (Northen) Shomali - Amu Darya (Amu Amu Tajikistan, River) Darya Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan Water Challenges • National Challenges • International challenge and the role of neighbouring countries - Rural area - Urban area Water Challenges Rural Area Challenges 80% of people living in Rural area 90% of poor living in Rural area Agriculture: - Accounts about ¼ of GDP (excluding opium Poppy) - Afghanistan has much bigger capacity for agriculture - Security: A part is in occupation of poppy fields - Technical support: Not intensive use of the land - Urbanization: A part is not in used due to immigration to cities Water Challenges Urban Area Challenges • The urban population increases rapidly (14% between 1999-2010) • Immigration -
Water Conflict Management and Cooperation Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Journal of Hydrology 570 (2019) 875–892 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Hydrology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhydrol Research papers Water conflict management and cooperation between Afghanistan and T Pakistan ⁎ Said Shakib Atefa, , Fahima Sadeqinazhadb, Faisal Farjaadc, Devendra M. Amatyad a Founder and Transboundary Water Expert in Green Social Research Organization (GSRO), Kabul, Afghanistan b AZMA the Vocational Institute, Afghanistan c GSRO, Afghanistan d USDA Forest Service, United States ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT This manuscript was handled by G. Syme, Managing water resource systems usually involves conflicts. Water recognizes no borders, defining the global Editor-in-Chief, with the assistance of Martina geopolitics of water conflicts, cooperation, negotiations, management, and resource development. Negotiations Aloisie Klimes, Associate Editor to develop mechanisms for two or more states to share an international watercourse involve complex networks of Keywords: natural, social and political system (Islam and Susskind, 2013). The Kabul River Basin presents unique cir- Water resources management cumstances for developing joint agreements for its utilization, rendering moot unproductive discussions of the Transboundary water management rights of upstream and downstream states based on principles of absolute territorial sovereignty or absolute Conflict resolution mechanism territorial integrity (McCaffrey, 2007). This paper analyses the different stages of water conflict transformation Afghanistan -
Groundwater Natural Resources and Quality Concern in Kabul Basin, Afghanistan
Groundwater natural resources and quality concern in Kabul Basin, Afghanistan Scientific Investigation Report in Afghanistan By: M. Hassan Saffi, Hydro geologist Edited by: M.Naim Eqrar Professor of Geosciences faculty, Kabul University June 2011 Paikob-e-Naswar, Wazirabad, PO Box 208, Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: (+93) (020) 220 17 50 Mobile (+93) (0)70 28 82 32 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.dacaar.org i Abstract Historical groundwater level and water quality data in Kabul Basin were reviewed and compared with the data collected recently. The results suggest that the groundwater quality and water level have been improved progressively with urban development, land use, climate change, socio - economic development and frequent drought events. The main impact of these events include; 1) most of the springs and karezes have dried up; 2) decreased annual precipitation; 3) increased serious deterioration of water quality; 4) increased water logging and salinization; 5) declining of water level in excess of recharge trend; 7) increased evaporation and; 6) marshes dried up in several areas of the Basin, leaving salt crust at the surface. The above impacts have resulted in the replacement of surface water by groundwater resources to support socio-economic development. This, however, is basically not possible because of low thickness and productivity of the aquifers. We have done very little to tackle water quality deterioration and serious lowering of the groundwater level due to fragmented institutional arrangements and poor formulation of effective water policies, strategies and regulation for integrated groundwater resources management, development, protection and sustainability. Groundwater natural reserves have been depleted and water quality has deteriorated due to over-exploitation. -
Afghanistan's Parliament in the Making
The involvement of women in Afghanistan’s public life is decreasing. Attacks, vigilantism, and legal processes that contradict the basic principles of human and women’s rights are the order of the day. The security situation is worsening in step with the disenchantment E MAKING H arising from the lack of results and functional shortcomings of existing democratic structures. In the face of such difficulties, we often forget who should create the legal underpinnings for the power in Afghanistan: the women and men in parliament who are working to build a state in these turbulent times of transition. To what extent will these elected representatives succeed in creating alternatives to established traditional power structures? What are the obstacles they face? What kinds of networks or caucuses are they establishing? This book, which is based on interviews of male and female members of parliament held in Kabul in 2007 and 2008, examines the reali- IN T pARLIAMENT ANISTan’s H ties of parliamentary work in Afghanistan. It shows how varied and G coercive the patterns of identification prevalent in Afghanistan can AF be, and it provides a rare opportunity to gain insights into the self- images and roles of women in parliament. ISBN 978-3-86928-006-6 Andrea Fleschenberg Afghanistan’s parliament in the making Andrea Fleschenberg Gendered understandings and practices of politics in a transitional country .) ED BÖLL FOUNDATION ( BÖLL FOUNDATION H The Green Political Foundation Schumannstraße 8 10117 Berlin www.boell.de HEINRIC Afghanistan’s parliament in the making Andrea Fleschenberg, PhD, currently works as research associate and lecturer at the Institute of Social Science at the University of Hildesheim, Germany. -
Water Dispute Escalating Between Iran and Afghanistan
Atlantic Council SOUTH ASIA CENTER ISSUE BRIEF Water Dispute Escalating between Iran and Afghanistan AUGUST 2016 FATEMEH AMAN Iran and Afghanistan have no major territorial disputes, unlike Afghanistan and Pakistan or Pakistan and India. However, a festering disagreement over allocation of water from the Helmand River is threatening their relationship as each side suffers from droughts, climate change, and the lack of proper water management. Both countries have continued to build dams and dig wells without environmental surveys, diverted the flow of water, and planted crops not suitable for the changing climate. Without better management and international help, there are likely to be escalating crises. Improving and clarifying existing agreements is also vital. The United States once played a critical role in mediating water disputes between Iran and Afghanistan. It is in the interest of the United States, which is striving to shore up the Afghan government and the region at large, to help resolve disagreements between Iran and Afghanistan over the Helmand and other shared rivers. The Atlantic Council Future Historical context of Iran Initiative aims to Disputes over water between Iran and Afghanistan date to the 1870s galvanize the international when Afghanistan was under British control. A British officer drew community—led by the United States with its global allies the Iran-Afghan border along the main branch of the Helmand River. and partners—to increase the In 1939, the Iranian government of Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Joint Comprehensive Plan of Zahir Shah’s Afghanistan government signed a treaty on sharing the Action’s chances for success and river’s waters, but the Afghans failed to ratify it. -
Transboundary River Basin Overview – Indus
0 [Type here] Irrigation in Africa in figures - AQUASTAT Survey - 2016 Transboundary River Basin Overview – Indus Version 2011 Recommended citation: FAO. 2011. AQUASTAT Transboundary River Basins – Indus River Basin. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way. All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licencerequest or addressed to [email protected]. -
Making the Most of Afghanistan's River Basins
Making the Most of Afghanistan’s River Basins Opportunities for Regional Cooperation By Matthew King and Benjamin Sturtewagen www.ewi.info About the Authors Matthew King is an Associate at the EastWest Institute, where he manages Preventive Diplomacy Initiatives. Matthew’s main interest is on motivating preventive action and strengthening the in- ternational conflict prevention architecture. His current work focuses on Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan and Iran, and on advancing regional solutions to prevent violent conflict. He is the head of the secretariat to the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security. He served in the same position for the International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy (2007–2008). King has worked for EWI since 2004. Before then he worked in the legal profession in Ireland and in the private sector with the Ford Motor Company in the field of change management. He is the author or coauthor of numerous policy briefs and papers, including “New Initiatives on Conflict Prevention and Human Security” (2008), and a contributor to publications, including a chapter on peace in Richard Cuto’s Civic and Political Leadership (Sage, forthcoming). He received his law degree from the University of Wales and holds a master’s in peace and conflict resolution from the Centre for Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford, in England. Benjamin Sturtewagen is a Project Coordinator at the EastWest Institute’s Regional Security Program. His work focuses on South Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, and on ways to promote regional security. Benjamin has worked for EWI since April 2006, starting as a Project Assistant in its Conflict Prevention Program and later as Project Coordinator in EWI’s Preventive Diplomacy Initiative.