 "A poster of the Taliban’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, displayed in Kabul. The ICC has issued arrest warrants naming him and Afghanistan’s Chief Justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. AFP")
Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has announced plans to build dams on the Kunar River to curb the flow of water into Pakistan. The order to start construction “as fast as possible” came directly from Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, according to Acting Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor.
“Afghans have the right to manage their own water,” Mansoor said on X, adding that the work will be carried out by Afghan firms rather than foreign contractors.
The decision comes amid renewed clashes along the Durand Line — the disputed 2,600 km border — after Pakistan accused Kabul of supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The move mirrors India’s recent actions after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, when New Delhi suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty governing water-sharing with Pakistan.
The Kunar River and its importance
The 480–500 km-long Kunar River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains near Pakistan’s Chitral district, flows south through Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in Afghanistan, and then enters Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, joining the Kabul River near Jalalabad. Known in Pakistan as the Chitral River, it eventually merges with the Indus near Attock in Punjab.
The Kunar and Kabul rivers are vital for Pakistan’s irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Any reduction in their flow could worsen water shortages, affecting agriculture and communities downstream.
Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with India, there is no formal water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leaving Islamabad with limited options to challenge Kabul’s move.
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More ShortsTaliban’s river strategy for Pak
Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has prioritised water sovereignty, building dams and canals to support agriculture and energy independence. A notable project is the Qosh Tepa canal in northern Afghanistan, a 285 km-long canal expected to irrigate 550,000 hectares, but feared to divert up to 21% of the Amu Darya’s water, affecting downstream nations like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
London-based journalist Sami Yousafzai noted on X: “After India, it may now be Afghanistan’s turn to restrict Pakistan’s water supply… The Supreme Leader has instructed the ministry to work with domestic companies rather than wait for foreign firms.”
India-Afghanistan cooperation on dams
Last week, Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India and met his counterpart S Jaishankar. The joint statement said both sides “appreciated India’s assistance in the construction and maintenance of the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) in Herat” and agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects to meet Afghanistan’s energy and agricultural needs.
India has long been involved in Afghanistan’s hydropower development. The $300 million Salma Dam, completed in 2016, generates 42 MW of electricity and irrigates 75,000 hectares. The Shahtoot Dam, backed by a $250 million Indian commitment, will supply clean water to two million Kabul residents and irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland.