Afghanistan Mulls Blocking River Flow to Pakistan, Takes Cue from India’s Indus Water Decision

Afghanistan is set to restrict Pakistan’s access to water by constructing dams along the Kunar River, a move that mirrors India’s recent actions on the Indus, the Taliban government announced this week.

Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada has approved the project, with acting Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor stating on X that the work will be carried out by Afghan companies.

“Afghans have the right to manage their own water,” Mansoor wrote, underscoring the government’s determination to assert control amid rising tensions along the Durand Line — the disputed 2,600-km border with Pakistan — following Islamabad’s accusations that Kabul supports the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Pakistan classifies as a terrorist group.

The Taliban’s move echoes India’s suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which aimed to regulate water sharing between India and Pakistan.

The Kunar River’s Strategic Role
Originating in Pakistan’s Chitral district in the Hindu Kush, the 500 km Kunar River flows south into Afghanistan through Kunar and Nangarhar provinces before merging with the Kabul River. Together with the Pech River, it eventually enters Pakistan again, joining the Indus near Attock in Punjab.

The Kabul River is a crucial source of irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power for Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Dams upstream in Afghanistan could sharply reduce Pakistan’s water supply, affecting agriculture and local communities. Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty, there are no formal agreements governing these rivers, leaving Pakistan with limited options to respond.

Taliban’s Water Infrastructure Push
Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban have prioritized controlling Afghanistan’s rivers and canals, building dams and canals to secure water and boost agriculture. The Qosh Tepa Canal in northern Afghanistan is a major project, stretching 285 km and expected to transform 550,000 hectares of arid land into farmland. Experts warn it could divert up to 21% of the Amu Darya, impacting water-scarce neighbours like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Recently, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, highlighting India’s support for dam construction in Herat province, reflecting closer cooperation in water infrastructure.

With the Kunar dams now approved, Afghanistan is leveraging its water resources as a geopolitical tool, raising concerns over regional stability and the potential for heightened tensions with Pakistan.