Central Asia’s complex water-security diplomacy with the Taliban

International security discussions often focus on traditional hard threats such as military aggression, nuclear weapons and economic coercion. But some of the future’s most dangerous flashpoints may emerge from something more basic: access to water.

Even in today’s interconnected world, with international treaties designed to foster cooperation, water scarcity is fuelling tensions in Central Asia. In particular, the Taliban’s construction of the 285-kilometre Qosh Tepa Canal is emerging as a particular pressure point...