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KABUL – Afghanistan’s Taliban government has announced plans to construct a major dam on the Kunar River — a key tributary of the Kabul River — in a move that could sharply reduce water flow into Pakistan. The decision, ordered by Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, comes amid rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad following weeks of deadly border clashes. Deputy Information Minister Muhajer Farahi said the dam’s construction would begin “as soon as possible” under domestic contractors, asserting Afghanistan’s right to manage its own water resources.
The Kunar River, originating in the Hindu Kush mountains and known as the Chitral River in Pakistan, flows into the Kabul River before merging with the Indus — a critical source for Pakistan’s irrigation and agriculture. Afghan officials framed the project as a matter of sovereignty and national pride, echoing Taliban commander General Mubin’s earlier statement that “the water is like our blood, and we will not allow it to flow out of our veins.”
The announcement follows Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, where both sides discussed cooperation on hydroelectric projects and water management — a move likely to add to Islamabad’s unease. Experts warn that the Kunar project could intensify regional disputes over water rights at a time when South Asia’s fragile river systems are already under strain from conflict, politics, and climate change.
