Month: October 2025

The second phase of Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal is expected to be completed within five months, Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Ariana News. The canal, which diverts water from the Amu Darya, has already raised concerns among downstream countries about its potential impact on regional water security.

Progress on the Ground

Afghan authorities stated in late May that 90 percent of the second phase had been completed. Videos show the canal lined with concrete and stone in some sections, alongside the construction of large and medium-sized bridges to link surrounding settlements. The project spans 128 kilometers from Dawlatabad district in Balkh province to Andkhoy district in Faryab province and involves over 60 contractors, making it one of Afghanistan’s largest infrastructure projects.

Origins and International Support

The canal’s roots trace back to earlier international efforts. While some sources attribute its conceptual origins to Soviet or British engineers in the 1960s, significant development began in 2018 under President Ashraf Ghani. The project was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indian engineering firms.

According to the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), a $3.6 million feasibility study was launched in Kabul in December 2018, funded by USAID and conducted by AACS Consulting and BETS Consulting Services Ltd. The study was coordinated with several Afghan ministries but has not been published.

Following the Taliban’s takeover, the Islamic Emirate held an official inauguration ceremony on March 30, 2022. The full canal is designed to stretch 290.5 kilometers, measuring 100 meters wide and 8.5 meters deep, and is expected to divert up to 6 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Amu Darya. Afghan media have quoted water management expert Najibullah Sadid, who projected the canal could generate between $470 million and $550 million in annual revenue.

Regional Concerns and Environmental Risks

The project has raised alarm in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, countries that depend heavily on the Amu Darya for irrigation. Experts at SIC ICWC point out that no environmental impact assessment was conducted for downstream states, nor were they formally notified of the construction, as required by international water conventions.

In December 2022, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for practical dialogue with Afghanistan and the international community to strengthen regional water security.

Adroit Associates estimates that the canal could eventually divert up to 13 billion cubic meters annually, nearly one-quarter of the Amu Darya’s average flow.

Environmental risks are also mounting. Analysts warn that Uzbekistan, which relies heavily on the river for agriculture, could face soil degradation and declining crop yields. Turkmenistan, where agriculture accounts for 12 percent of GDP, may also see severe disruptions. Some studies suggest Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan could lose up to 15 percent of their Amu Darya water supply, with flow volumes potentially halved within five to six years.

Environmental groups caution that, as with the Karakum Canal, Qosh Tepa may raise groundwater levels, causing widespread soil salinization and the long-term loss of arable land across the region.

A Test for Regional Water Diplomacy

The canal was a key topic at a recent international conference on water security held in Astana, which brought together Central Asian experts, diplomats, and government officials. Speakers stressed the need for coordinated regional strategies to manage transboundary water resources.

“Kazakhstan has no common border with Afghanistan, but we understand that water withdrawal volumes will have consequences,” said Aslan Abdraimov, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.

Currently, no formal water-sharing agreement exists between Afghanistan and its northern neighbors. Although Afghanistan is entitled to use the Amu Darya under international law, the Taliban’s unilateral construction of the canal highlights the absence of coordination.

Observers note, however, that Uzbekistan supplies electricity to Afghanistan and Turkmenistan continues to export gas to the country. These economic ties could provide a foundation for future cooperation on shared water resources.

GENZ212 Calls for New Peaceful Demonstrations as Unrest Spreads, Leaving Two Dead and Hundreds Detained

On October 1, 2025, youth-led protests in Morocco intensified for the fifth consecutive day, following the deaths of two individuals who attempted to storm a gendarmerie post in Laqliaa, near Agadir, fueling widespread unrest, reports 24brussels.

The situation escalated on Wednesday night, marking the first fatalities of the protests. In addition to the two deaths, many others sustained injuries while trying to breach the Royal Gendarmerie post. Security forces, facing overwhelming numbers, resorted to live fire to disperse the crowd.

Protests that began peacefully on Saturday in significant urban areas such as Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier, quickly turned violent from Tuesday evening. Demonstrations spread to both urban and rural regions, leading to clashes with security personnel, resulting in dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests. Reports indicate property destruction, with demonstrators vandalizing vehicles and setting banks on fire.

On Wednesday, the Moroccan Interior Ministry reported that police captured 409 individuals for their alleged involvement in violent actions during the protests. As of Tuesday, 263 security personnel and 23 civilians had been reported injured due to the unrest, with numerous vehicles damaged or destroyed.

The Moroccan prosecutor’s office announced its intention to prosecute 193 individuals for “acts of violence, destruction, and incitement.” The authorities have vowed to respond with “maximum firmness,” announcing potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison and life sentences for severe offenses.

The youth collective known as GENZ212, which organized the demonstrations, reiterated its commitment to non-violence. The group, comprised of politically unaffiliated Generation Z members, focuses on issues such as healthcare improvement, education reform, anti-corruption measures, and increased job opportunities.

In response to the violence, GENZ212 announced peaceful protests set for Thursday, describing them as “a civil and responsible expression” of “legitimate demands.” The group emphasized their protests would be conducted in an orderly manner, establishing clear start and end times. “We confirm to public opinion and the authorities that our demonstrations will be entirely peaceful and we reject any form of violence, vandalism, or disorder,” GENZ212 stated after a comprehensive internal discussion.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s governing coalition has signaled its willingness to engage in dialogue with the youth to explore realistic and viable solutions within institutional and public forums. On Wednesday night, Moroccan Health Minister Amine Tahraoui was summoned by a parliamentary committee to address the ongoing health sector concerns raised by the protests, affirming the government’s reform plans as essential to addressing youthful grievances.

As unrest grows, Moroccan authorities now face significant pressure to respond to the demands of the youth while maintaining public order and safety. The protests have not only highlighted public frustration over social issues but have also raised questions about the government’s responsiveness to citizen needs.

An Electronic Queue Management System (e-QMS) has been launched at the Dostuk border crossing, the primary checkpoint between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan along the Osh-Andijon road.

The initiative, developed through cooperation between the Kyrgyz government, the European Union, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), is part of the “Ready4Trade Central Asia” project (2024-2028), which aims to streamline trade procedures and boost economic competitiveness across the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Funded by the European Union, the project is designed to simplify cross-border operations and improve conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The e-QMS platform, developed by the ITC in collaboration with Kyrgyzstan’s State Customs Service and Ministry of Economy and Commerce, allows transport operators to pre-book border crossing times online or via a mobile app.

The system is expected to reduce waiting times, ease congestion, and improve the predictability of border transit, benefiting both carriers and customs authorities through greater transparency, efficiency, and safety.

“For Kyrgyzstan, the implementation of e-QMS is a cornerstone in creating a business-friendly environment for exporters. The new system simplifies procedures, reduces costs for exporters and carriers, and makes trade more transparent and efficient,” said Iskender Asylkulov, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce.

The system was initially piloted at the Kyzyl-Kiya border crossing in November 2024, where it processed more than 12,000 vehicles in its first six months. Following positive feedback from transport operators and significant reductions in wait times, the system has now been expanded to Dostuk, one of the region’s busiest crossings. In 2024 alone, over 87,000 vehicles passed through Dostuk, including more than 21,000 import consignments, nearly 8,000 export shipments, and over 58,000 transit movements.

The deployment of the e-QMS is expected to further boost trade between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which reached $846 million in 2024. From January to June 2025, bilateral trade turnover totaled $430.2 million, $50 million more than during the same period in 2024, according to data from Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee.