Abstract
Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, water sharing among Central
Asian countries was a domestic matter, controlled by Moscow. After the six Central
Asian states declared their independence across the second half of 1991, water sharing
rapidly became a key regional issue. Although a range of bilateral and multilateral
negotiations and agreements have taken place in the ensuing 25 years, it is fair to say
that this issue has never been resolved satisfactorily, and remains a key bone of contention
between the republics of Central Asia. This chapter traces the various attempts at
developing legal frameworks to resolve regional water sharing disputes to date