After years of water disputes with India, Pakistan now faces a new challenge from its western neighbor. The Afghan Taliban’s water weapon against Pakistan may be taking shape as Kabul announces plans to build dams on the Kunar River, a vital water source flowing into Pakistan.The move could shift regional water politics, while the Taliban insists the project will not harm Pakistan and is purely for Afghanistan’s development.
Taliban Leadership Orders Kunar River Dam Construction
Taliban Deputy Minister for Information, Mujahid Farahi, revealed that the Ministry of Water and Energy has received direct orders from Taliban’s supreme leader, Shaikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, to start building dams on the Kunar River without delay.
He added that the “Amir al-Mu’minin” has instructed officials to sign contracts with Afghan companies rather than waiting for foreign contractors. This decision, analysts say, signals Kabul’s determination to assert control over shared water resources — even if it risks friction with Pakistan.
Ameer Muttaqi’s Role — Continuation or New Strategy?
Observers are questioning whether Afghan Foreign Minister Ameer Khan Muttaqi was ever warned about potential water tensions with Pakistan during earlier diplomatic engagements — or if this is part of a deliberate new strategy to replicate India’s pressure tactics.
When India accelerated its Indus Basin dam projects, Islamabad accused New Delhi of weaponizing water under the pretext of development. Now, similar concerns are emerging as Kabul adopts a hardline approach to its rivers shared with Pakistan.
Taliban Minister: ‘These Are Afghan Waters’
Afghan Minister of Energy and Water, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, has pushed back against Pakistan’s concerns, saying the Kunar River Dam will not harm Pakistan and will primarily be built through Afghan investment.
“These are Afghan waters, and we should use them for our own benefit,” Mansoor said in an audio statement. “No one should be concerned — studies have shown this project will not harm anyone. Even during the Republic era, Pakistan’s experts confirmed it would not cause them any damage.”
He also criticized foreign firms for delaying cooperation, saying the Islamic Emirate will move ahead independently if needed.
Strategic Implications for Pakistan
While Afghanistan’s position may appear technical, it carries deep strategic consequences. The Kunar River feeds into the Kabul River, which eventually flows into Pakistan’s Indus basin — a lifeline for agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Any disruption, even partial, could affect downstream irrigation, hydropower, and water storage, particularly during dry seasons.
Between Development and Leverage
While the Taliban frames the project as a national development initiative, regional analysts see a geopolitical undertone — a subtle signal that water may now be a diplomatic tool for Afghanistan, much like India’s river strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan.
