Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is making plans to construct dams and limit water flow to Pakistan, as per the Afghan Information Ministry. The directive to expedite the building of a dam on the Kunar River was issued by Taliban Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. This declaration regarding the “right to water” comes shortly after a conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan resulted in numerous casualties.
Afghanistan’s announcement mirrors India’s recent decision to suspend water-sharing agreements with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The Afghan Ministry of Water and Energy confirmed that Supreme Leader Akhundzada has directed the ministry to initiate dam construction on the Kunar river promptly and engage local companies for the project.
London-based Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai suggested that Afghanistan might follow India’s lead in restricting Pakistan’s water supply. Additionally, Akhundzada instructed the ministry to collaborate with Afghan companies rather than relying on foreign firms for the construction contracts.
The Kunar River, spanning 480 kilometers, originates in northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border and eventually merges with the Kabul River in Pakistan. The Kabul River, a vital transboundary river between Afghanistan and Pakistan, plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s irrigation and water requirements, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Any reduction in Kunar River’s water flow could have significant repercussions on the Indus River and impact regions like Punjab.
Afghanistan’s move to assert its water sovereignty comes amid prolonged clashes along the Durand Line, the unofficial border with Pakistan, which Afghanistan disputes as illegitimate. Since assuming power in 2021, the Taliban has emphasized the importance of securing Afghanistan’s water resources by accelerating dam construction and hydropower projects to enhance energy production, irrigation, and reduce reliance on neighboring nations.
Pakistan and Afghanistan lack a formal agreement for water sharing, causing concerns in Islamabad over Afghanistan’s increasing focus on water sovereignty. Pakistani authorities have warned that unilateral actions by Afghanistan could trigger a regional water crisis, exacerbating Pakistan’s existing energy and food security challenges.
The decision by the Afghan Taliban regime to prioritize water management follows a recent visit by Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, where both countries underscored the significance of sustainable water management and agreed to collaborate on hydroelectric projects to address Afghanistan’s energy needs and agricultural development.
India and Afghanistan have bolstered their cooperation in hydropower and energy through significant infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing water security, irrigation, and electricity generation across Afghanistan. The collaboration includes projects like the Salma Dam in Herat, funded by India, which has reduced Afghanistan’s dependence on imported electricity. Moreover, the Shahtoot Dam on the Maidan River, supported by India, is set to provide clean water to Kabul residents and irrigate thousands of hectares of land for agriculture.
By working together on these projects, India and Afghanistan aim to enhance water security, promote agricultural development, and address energy needs in the region.