Importance of data in the management of Kabul river Basin

Abstract

Effective transboundary water management depends on data availability, but its shortage and non-sharing are main hurdles in the management of Kabul River Basin shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan. Accurate and timely shared data is necessary for managing droughts, floods, agricultural planning, irrigation arrangements, climate adaptation, dams’ operation, river control structures, negotiations etc.  It provides overall understanding regarding effects of upstream and downstream water use, fosters participative decision making and mitigates conflicts. The article emphasizes that both countries should not be critical and consider each other concerns.  Therefore, Coordinated and integrated system of data exchange is necessary for equitable and durable management of Kabul River Basin.