Overview

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has announced a new plan to reduce Pakistan’s access to water by building dams on the Kunar River. This move is seen as similar to India’s recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after the terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year. The new policy could affect Pakistan’s farming, drinking water supply, and electricity generation.

Taliban Pushes for Control Over Water

The order to start dam construction was issued by Taliban Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. According to Acting Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, local Afghan companies will manage the projects. In his statement, he emphasized that Afghans “have the right to control their own water.”

Tensions have already been rising along the Durand Line, the disputed border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been linked to cross-border violence.

India’s Earlier Response Sets a Model

In April, India suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Afghanistan’s current approach appears to reflect this strategy, signaling a shift in regional water politics.

Importance of the Kunar (Kabul) River

The Kunar River stretches nearly 500 km. It begins in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, flows into Afghanistan, and later merges with the Kabul River before re-entering Pakistan. The combined flow eventually joins the Indus River near Attock in Punjab.

This river is vital for:

• Irrigation

• Drinking water

• Hydroelectric power

Cutting or controlling this flow before it reaches Pakistan could lead to major shortages, especially in the already water-stressed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

No Treaty Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Unlike India and Pakistan, which operate under the Indus Waters Treaty, there is no formal water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This leaves Pakistan without a clear legal pathway to challenge Afghanistan’s actions.

Taliban’s Broader Water Strategy

Since coming to power in 2021, the Taliban has focused on securing food and water supplies by building dams and canals. One major example is the Qosh Tepa Canal in northern Afghanistan. This 285 km canal is expected to convert over 550,000 hectares of dry land into farmland. Experts warn it could divert up to 21% of the Amu Darya River, which may impact water availability in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

India-Afghanistan Water Cooperation

During a recent visit to India, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi praised India’s support in maintaining a key dam in Herat province. Both countries agreed to work together on future water projects, including hydropower development and agricultural support.

Regional Impact

This move may:

• Increase political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan

• Trigger new water disputes in South Asia

• Strengthen India-Afghanistan ties

• Deepen Pakistan’s existing water crisis

Conclusion

Afghanistan’s decision to build dams on the Kunar River marks a major shift in regional power dynamics. Without a water treaty in place, Pakistan faces a serious challenge that could escalate into a larger diplomatic conflict.