The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has declared its intention to build a major dam on the Kunar River, which originates in Pakistan, a unilateral move poised to severely escalate water-related and border tensions between the two neighboring countries. The controversial decision comes in the absence of any formal water-sharing treaty and follows previous warnings from Islamabad that such an action would be considered hostile.
The directive for the project came from the country’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, who has ordered the Ministry of Energy and Water to proceed with the development without delay. According to Afghan Minister for Energy and Water Abdul Latif Mansoor, the leadership has mandated the use of local companies to begin the undertaking immediately, rather than waiting for foreign contractors. ‘The Afghan people have the right to manage their own water resources,’ Minister Mansoor stated, quoting the supreme leader.
The Kunar River is one of Afghanistan’s five primary river systems, originating from Pakistan’s Chitral district. It flows for approximately 482 kilometers through Afghanistan’s Kunar province before merging with the Kabul River and re-entering Pakistani territory, making it a critical shared resource.
Water distribution has long been a delicate subject between the two nations. With no official agreement in place, the allocation of water from the river has historically been managed through informal and customary practices, a fragile system now threatened by Kabul’s latest plan.
This development revives concerns previously voiced by Pakistan. Last year, reports of similar plans prompted former Pakistani minister Jan Achakzai to caution that any unilateral dam construction on the Kunar River would be perceived as a belligerent act against Pakistan, warning it could lead to a serious confrontation.
Reaffirming the regime’s commitment, Minister Mansoor told Shamshad TV that the dam is a top priority. He relayed a message of urgency from Akhundzada, stating, “If we do not build a dam on the Kunar River now, we will never be able to build it.”
The minister highlighted that while Afghanistan respects its formal water agreement with Iran, the Helmand River Treaty, no such restrictions exist with its other neighbors. This position underscores the administration’s resolve to proceed with dam projects elsewhere in the country without seeking regional consensus.