The Taliban government in Afghanistan has announced its plans to fill the Pashdan Dam in Herat and build two additional dams on the Farah River.
Amid Pakistan-Afghanistan war, tension rises between Iran and Kabul, Tehran warns Taliban of…
Tehran: Amid escalating skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, tensions between Iran and Afghanistan are rising over dam construction. Iran has issued a strong response, accusing the Taliban government of violating agreements and misusing water from rivers that flow into Iranian territory. However, Afghanistan has dismissed Iran’s claims. The dispute revolves around the allocation and use of shared river resources, a long-standing issue between the two countries.
Announcement Made By Taliban
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has announced its plans to fill the Pashdan Dam in Herat and build two additional dams on the Farah River. Recently, the Pashdan Dam, which is built on the Karokh River, started the water-filling process. Meanwhile, construction of the Bakhshabad Dam in Farah is progressing rapidly, and work on the Kaj Samad Dam is expected to begin soon.
These dams are built to channel water through canals for agricultural irrigation in order to address Afghanistan’s longstanding water scarcity caused by years of conflict that included terrorism. These projects aim to bring much-needed water to farmlands in the region.
Iran Reminds Afghanistan of Agreements
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that these dams violate bilateral agreements, disregarding Iran’s water rights. Responding to the issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has requested the government to remove barriers blocking the river’s water into Iran, as per the treaties between the two countries.
He said that water usage must adhere to bilateral agreements, international customary laws, and principles of good neighbourliness
Afghanistan Denies Treaty Violations
While Iran talks about its rights under existing agreements, some experts believe that no formal treaty exists between Tehran and Kabul regarding the Harirod and Farah rivers.
Why Afghanistan Needs Water
Head of the Herat Expert Council Mohammad Rafiq Shaheer told Tolo News that Afghanistan needs water resources. Decades of war have devastated the country’s economy and agriculture.
With peace slowly returning, utilising water resources is a natural right for Afghanistan to tackle unemployment and ensure food security for people, he said.