- Afghanistan Plans Dams on Kabul River Amid Border Tensions
- Taliban Government Asserts Right to Control Domestic Rivers
Amid rising border tensions with Pakistan, Afghanistan has announced plans to construct dams on the Kunar (Kabul) River to restrict the flow of water into Pakistan. The move follows India’s cancellation of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Reports suggest that Afghanistan is now following a similar approach to assert control over its water resources and strengthen its strategic position.
According to sources, Supreme Leader Maulavi Hibatullah Akhundzada has directed the construction of dams on the Kunar River at the earliest. Afghanistan’s Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor shared a post on X, reaffirming his country’s stance. “Afghans have the right to control their own rivers,” he said. He also stated that only domestic Afghan companies will carry out the construction work near the river.
The situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has grown increasingly volatile. The 2,600-kilometer-long Durand Line between the two nations has frequently been a flashpoint for violence. Pakistan continues to accuse Afghanistan of harboring or supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. In response to ongoing clashes, the Taliban administration appears to have taken a decisive step by advancing the dam construction plan, signaling its intent to manage cross-border water flows independently.
The Kunar River originates in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan’s Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and flows south into Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces before merging with the Kabul River. Further downstream, the combined flow re-enters Pakistan, joining the Indus River at Attock in Punjab province. The Kabul River system is essential for agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower generation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, Afghanistan’s proposal to build dams near the Pakistan border is expected to impact these water resources significantly.
Analysts suggest that if implemented, the dam construction could further strain bilateral relations. The Taliban government, however, maintains that the project is a sovereign right aimed at better managing domestic water supplies and supporting Afghanistan’s agriculture and energy sectors.
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