Pakistan lacks a water-sharing treaty with Afghanistan, making this a critical geopolitical issue. (Image: Social Media)
Plans to quickly construct dams on the Kunar River have been revealed by the Taliban government in Afghanistan, a move that might greatly increase regional tensions. The directive, which was directly issued by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, calls for the building to proceed "as fast as possible" and to use Afghan companies. This development threatens to restrict water flows into Pakistan's Indus River, a vital artery for millions, and comes just days after deadly border clashes between the two neighboring nations.
The directive from the Taliban's leadership is clear and urgent. Akhundzada has ordered Afghanistan's water and energy ministry to immediately sign contracts with domestic companies to begin building dams on the Kunar River, bypassing any wait for foreign firms. The announcement was made publicly on social media by the Taliban’s deputy information minister, Mujahid Farahi. Justifying the move, the Taliban’s water and power minister, Abdul Latif Mansoor, stated that “Afghans have the right to manage their own water resources,” signaling a firm stance on national sovereignty over water.
The Kunar River is a critical tributary for Pakistan. It originates in Pakistan but flows into Afghanistan, where it joins the Kabul River before feeding back into the Indus River in Pakistan. Pakistan depends heavily on the Indus River for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower. A major drop in water coming from the Kunar River could cause serious economic and food-related problems. Since Pakistan and Afghanistan don’t have a water-sharing pact like the Indus Waters Treaty with India, this issue could become a point of conflict.
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The announcement of the dam is the most recent cause of contention in the tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul. It comes after hundreds of troops were killed in a series of brutal border battles that resulted in a tenuous truce mediated by Qatar and Turkey on October 19. The hostilities began after Pakistan launched air strikes inside Afghan territory targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Meanwhile, sources indicate that India, which suspended its own Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after a recent terror attack, has no current role in the Kunar dam project. The issue of water management was, however, discussed during a recent visit by a Taliban minister to India, highlighting its strategic importance.
