KABUL (BNA): The Ministry of Energy and Water has assured that Afghanistan’s water management efforts aim to ensure equitable use without infringing on the rights of neighboring countries, amidst concerns raised by some regional states regarding dam construction projects in Afghanistan.
Mujib-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzada, Deputy Minister of Water, stated during the inauguration of the Shah wa Aros Dam in northern Kabul, “Afghanistan’s water management is not intended to disregard the rights of our neighbors. Our country has long lacked proper water resource management due to years of crises.”
This response comes after Eisa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s water industry, expressed concerns over the construction and water storage of the Pashdan Dam in Herat. Omar Akhundzada addressed these concerns, emphasizing, “Our goal in managing Afghanistan’s water resources is not to create problems for neighboring countries but to secure the rights of the Afghan people over their water resources.”
He also highlighted the severe impacts of drought in Afghanistan, mentioning that many residents of provinces such as Uruzgan, Helmand, Farah, Kandahar, and Zabul have been forced to migrate due to water shortages.
Despite Afghanistan’s commitment to equitable water management, Omar Akhundzada criticized Iran for constructing hundreds of small and large dams, utilizing more water than their entitlement, which has left thousands of hectares of farmland in Afghan provinces like Zabul, Helmand, Kandahar, Farah, and Uruzgan unable to be irrigated.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Water, more than half of Afghanistan’s cultivable land remains underutilized due to inadequate water supply and management, further underscoring the need for efficient and sustainable water resource development within the country.
