Taliban’s Dams on Kunar River Spark Pakistan Water Alarm

Kabul/Islamabad: Afghanistan’s Taliban government has announced plans to construct a series of dams on the Kunar River — a key tributary of the Indus — in a move seen as an effort to tighten control over water resources flowing into Pakistan.

The decision, issued under direct instructions from Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, was confirmed by acting Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, who declared on X that Afghans “have the right to manage their own water.” Mansoor added that construction will be carried out by domestic companies, not foreign contractors.

By the directive of the esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin (may Allah protect him), construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Kunar River will soon begin.
Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, the Minister of Energy and Water, said that Afghans have the right to manage their own water resources.… pic.twitter.com/oguhLCZTzR

— RTA English (@rtaenglish1) October 24, 2025

Rising Strains Across the Durand Line

The announcement comes amid growing friction along the 2,600-km Durand Line, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Analysts say the new dam plan could deepen hostilities, especially as Pakistan’s water security depends heavily on the Indus basin.

Notably, Afghanistan’s initiative follows India’s suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the April Pahalgam terror attack, further isolating Pakistan in regional water politics.

The Kunar River: A Shared Lifeline

Originating in Pakistan’s Chitral district and flowing through Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, the Kunar River merges with the Kabul River before re-entering Pakistan to join the Indus near Attock. The system sustains vast irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric projects across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Experts warn that if Afghanistan proceeds with multiple dams on the Kunar and Kabul rivers, Pakistan could face acute water shortages, as there is no formal water-sharing treaty between the two neighbours — leaving Islamabad with little legal leverage.

Kabul’s Expanding Water Ambitions

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has made water control a national priority, linking it to food and energy self-sufficiency. One of its flagship initiatives, the Qosh Tepa Canal — a 285-km mega project in northern Afghanistan — aims to irrigate over 550,000 hectares of arid land, potentially diverting up to 21% of the Amu Darya’s flow, alarming Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Just last week, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks in India on hydroelectric and irrigation cooperation, with both sides agreeing on the need for sustainable water management to boost Afghanistan’s energy and agriculture sectors.

Water Geopolitics in South Asia

With India reasserting control over Indus basin waters and Afghanistan now asserting sovereignty over the Kunar and Kabul rivers, South Asia’s water geopolitics is entering a turbulent new phase.

Analysts caution that unless a transboundary water management framework is established, Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions could escalate sharply, adding another flashpoint to an already volatile regional equation.