Uzbekistan – Tajikistan: Cooperation in the Field of Water Resources

The Uzbek and Tajik peoples have lived side by side since ancient times; our rivers, traditions, and cultural values are deeply intertwined and shared. Historical proximity, mutual respect, common interests, and the spirit of good-neighborliness have formed a strong foundation for the modern partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan, including their cooperation in the field of water resources management.

The legal framework governing cooperation between the two states in the water sector is defined by the multilateral Agreement “On Cooperation in the Joint Management, Use and Protection of Water Resources of Interstate Sources,” signed by the Heads of State of Central Asia on 18 February 1992 in the city of Alma-Ata. This document serves as an important platform for developing coordinated approaches to the rational and mutually beneficial utilization of transboundary water resources, as well as for strengthening regional cooperation.

The legal foundations of cooperation between the two states in the field of water resources are defined by the multilateral Agreement “On Cooperation in the Joint Management, Use and Protection of Water Resources of Interstate Sources,” signed by the Heads of State of Central Asia on 18 February 1992 in the city of Alma-Ata. This document serves as an important platform for developing coordinated approaches to the rational and mutually beneficial use of transboundary water resources, as well as for strengthening regional cooperation.

In order to further enhance bilateral cooperation, in 2019 the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan established a Joint Working Group on the Integrated Use of Water Resources of the Transboundary Rivers of Central Asia. The national delegations of the Working Group are headed by the Minister of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.

To date, seven meetings of the Joint Working Group have been held, within the framework of which issues related to the development of bilateral cooperation are discussed on a regular basis. In particular, the parties consider prospects for implementing joint transboundary projects in the water sector, exchange experience on reforms in water resources management systems, and discuss matters related to coordinating the operational regime of the Bahri Tojik Reservoir.

The Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Kazakhstan have established effective cooperation in coordinating the operational regime of the Bahri Tojik Reservoir during the summer period. This interaction is carried out through the annual signing of protocols following working meetings with the participation of the Uzbek, Kazakh, and Tajik sides.

In accordance with the agreements reached, the Republic of Tajikistan ensures additional water releases from the Bahri Tojik Reservoir during the summer period, which contributes to improving water supply for irrigated lands in the territories of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as to the successful conduct of the vegetation season. In turn, the Uzbek and Kazakh sides provide the Tajik side with gratuitous material and technical assistance in the form of machinery, equipment, and fuel and lubricants for carrying out irrigation and bank-protection works at the Bahri Tojik Reservoir.

On 30 May 2025, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed another protocol of the trilateral working meeting on coordinating the operational regime of the Bahri Tojik Reservoir for the period of June–August 2025. According to the protocol, water releases totaling 1,142 million cubic meters were planned for this period. In practice, however, the volume reached 1,241 million cubic meters, which, due to the additional water discharge, made it possible to ensure a reliable water supply for agricultural croplands in the Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Tashkent regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan located within the Syr Darya River basin.

Another important area of cooperation is the improvement of the system for monitoring and accounting of water resources. In accordance with the protocol of the 4th meeting of the Joint Uzbek–Tajik Working Group on the Integrated Use of Water Resources of the Transboundary Rivers of Central Asia, held on 31 May 2021, modern water-measuring instruments were installed in 2024 at the Patar and Sarvak hydrological posts using grant funds provided by the Government of Switzerland.

This equipment enables the Uzbek and Tajik sides to obtain оперативные и достоверные данные in real time and to maintain accurate accounting of water discharge on the interstate main canals North Fergana Canal and Great Fergana Canal.

Alongside the coordination of reservoir operation regimes and the improvement of water accounting systems, the parties are also implementing a number of measures aimed at the restoration, modernization, and protection of irrigation infrastructure.

In particular, in order to mitigate water scarcity in the Surkhandarya region of the Republic of Uzbekistan and to ensure reliable water supply to agricultural croplands, a 50.8-kilometer section of the Big Gissar Canal, which abstracts water from the Varzob River located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, was completely cleared of silt and sediment between 2018 and 2021.

Furthermore, during 2022–2025, in order to ensure stable water intake in the region, repair works were carried out on a major water distribution structure on the Varzob River (including four regulating water gates), as well as on 28 large and small gates along the Big Gissar Canal.

In addition, due to the аварийное состояние of the section of the Big Gissar Canal that crosses the Khanaka River through a siphon structure, reinforced concrete protection works were carried out to strengthen the riverbed and safeguard this section from mudflows and floodwaters originating from the Khanaka River.

As a result of the implementation of these measures, additional water supply of up to 35–40 m³/s from sources located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan is provided for the needs of the Surkhandarya region, taking into account the water availability of tributaries during both the vegetation and non-vegetation periods.

Water is one of the most vital natural resources determining the development of states and the well-being of the peoples of our region. By jointly utilizing the resources of transboundary rivers, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan continue to consistently strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly strive to ensure sustainable development and shared prosperity.

Utkir Sheraliyev

Deputy Minister of Water Resources.