ABSTRACT
The natural resources of Afghanistan such as water, forests and minerals are a key source for the country’s peaceful and prosperous future. The evolution of freshwater governance frameworks in Afghanistan reflects that Afghanistan has three parallel governance systems that govern natural resources including water: the local customs, sharia law and the state legal codes. Legal pluralism occurs when freshwater resources are governed through multiple laws, policies and strategies. Water governance frameworks contain instruments that contradict each other. The River Basin Councils are authorised for issuance, modification and cancellation of permits for water use in the cases of underand over-utilisation, lack of water availability, and in the national interest. Formation of Water User Associations for participatory management, operation and maintenance for equitable water distribution at the local level are central features. The 2007 Environment Law has a number of regulatory instruments for environmental protection that can affect water quality and quantity.
