Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has announced plans to construct dams and regulate the flow of river water to Pakistan, the Afghan Information Ministry said. The directive to accelerate dam construction on the River Kunar was issued by Taliban Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, highlighting the regime’s increasing focus on controlling transboundary water resources.
According to the ministry, Akhundzada instructed the Ministry of Water and Energy to begin work on the project immediately and sign contracts with domestic companies. “The Supreme Leader has ordered the ministry to sign contracts with Afghan companies rather than wait for foreign firms,” Deputy Information Minister Muhajer Farahi posted on X.
Observers note that Afghanistan’s move mirrors India’s recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty following the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists on April 22. London-based Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai commented on X, “After India, it may now be Afghanistan’s turn to restrict Pakistan’s water supply,” underscoring a broader regional assertion over water rights.
