The Kabul River Basin Issue: Navigating International Legal Frameworks and the Path Toward Afghanistan-Pakistan Water Cooperation

The Kabul River Basin is a shared transboundary resource by Afghanistan and Pakistan, serves as a vital source for water supply necessary for irrigation, hydropower generation, and domestic consumption. However, the lack of a binding water-sharing agreement has resulted in geopolitical tensions and issues in resource management. This study aims to analyze the legislative deficiencies and explore feasible frameworks for collaborative governance of the Kabul River Basin. This research employs a doctrinal legal analysis method to assess international water law, including the UN Watercourses Convention, the Helsinki Rules (1966), and customary international law, emphasizing principles such as equitable utilization, harm prevention, and cooperation. In bridging theory with practice, the research further incorporates comparative insights from established transboundary agreements, notably the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), to identify adaptable mechanisms. The results suggest that despite ongoing legal and political obstacles, compliance with international legal standards and collaboration with entities such as the International Court of Justice and the World Bank can facilitate conflict resolution. These findings highlight the potential for a bilateral agreement grounded in legal precedent and cooperative principles. Ultimately, the study contributes to the discourse on transboundary water governance by outlining legal pathways for sustainable, cooperative water governance in the KRB.