Kabul: Afghanistan has escalated its geopolitical maneuvering against Pakistan by announcing plans to build a dam on the Kunar River, which originates in Afghanistan and flows into Pakistan. The critical decision was announced by the supreme leader of the Taliban, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, on X (formerly Twitter). This move comes amidst severely strained relations between the two neighboring countries.
The Afghan Ministry of Water and Energy reported that Akhundzada has instructed authorities to immediately commence construction on the Kunar River dam. Crucially, the directive emphasized not waiting for foreign companies but engaging domestic firms to sign the contract swiftly.
This development is expected to severely exacerbate Pakistan’s existing water scarcity, which has been deepening since India froze the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam attack.
Geopolitical Implications of the Kunar Dam
The Kunar River is approximately 480 kilometers long, originating in the Hindu Kush mountains of northeastern Afghanistan, near the Broghil Pass close to the Pakistani border. It flows south through the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces before crossing into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where it joins the Kabul River near Jalalabad. In Pakistan, the Kunar is known as the Chitral River.
The river’s water is essential for irrigating farmlands and meeting other needs in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Experts suggest that stopping the flow of water from the Kunar could be equivalent to effectively closing off a significant water source for Pakistan, creating severe repercussions for agriculture and public life.
Crucially, there is no formal bilateral water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, meaning the construction of the dam cannot be legally challenged by Islamabad.
While the move follows heightened conflict with Pakistan, the Taliban is publicly framing the dam construction as part of its goal for national self-sufficiency and reconstruction, focusing initially on power generation and irrigation. The Taliban, since taking power in 2021, has prioritized various infrastructure projects. It is noted that India has been actively assisting in Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts.
