Kabul's Kunar dam to limit water to Pak as mistrust flows on

Afghanistan has taken a monumental step by initiating the construction of a dam on the Kunar River, a strategic project designed to regulate water flow towards Pakistan. This ambitious move comes in the wake of recent tensions along the border, signaling Afghanistan's apprehensions regarding Pakistan's policies.

Afghanistan has announced plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River that will limit water flowing into Pakistan, a move that signals Kabul's lack of trust in Islamabad's machinations.

The directive to expedite dam construction on the river was reportedly issued by supreme leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The declaration of Afghanistan's decision comes only weeks after a violent border conflict with Pakistan. While a Qatar-brokered ceasefire was reached, ties remain fragile.

According to the Afghan ministry of water and energy, the country's leader instructed the ministry to begin dam construction on the Kunar River immediately and finalise contracts with domestic firms. The announcement was made by Muhajer Farahi, deputy minister of information, in a post on X.

The Kunar River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains close to Pakistan. It enters Pakistan through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it merges with the Kabul River near Jalalabad. In Pakistan, this river is known as the Chitral River.

The decision came after Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India. "Appreciating India's assistance in the construction and maintenance of the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam in Herat, both sides also underscored the importance of sustainable water management and agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects with a view to addressing Afghanistan's energy needs and supporting its agricultural development," a joint statement during the visit said.

India had helped to build the dam, which is also known as the Salma Dam.

Meanwhile, Taliban is mending ties with Tajikistan, which has been hesitant to engage with Kabul after the fall of the Abdul Ghani government in 2021.

A high-level Taliban delegation has travelled to Tajikistan to meet senior intelligence officials to discuss steps to prevent each other's territory from being used against the other, ET has learnt.

Tajikistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, is home to Afghan opposition leaders of Tajik origin and has been historically wary of Pashtun-dominated Taliban.

However, after Russia recognised the Taliban regime and outreach by other Central Asian states to Taliban, the Tajik government has tweaked its approach to establish working ties with Taliban.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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