Iran urges Afghanistan to restore river flow after second dam construction
Iran urged Afghanistan to restore the natural flow of rivers along their shared border after Kabul built a second dam on the Harirud River, reducing water supplies to Iran.
"Afghanistan is expected to cooperate in keeping the flow of water and removing the obstacles that have been created," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday.
The Harirud Basin, a water basin shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, is now impacted by the construction of the Pashdan Dam on the Harirud River, which could significantly reduce water flow to Iran’s eastern province of Khorasan Razavi where over two million people depend on the river for drinking water.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly mentioned to Afghan parties, through appropriate means, especially through official diplomatic channels and functional (technical) mechanisms, that the use of water resources and basins cannot made without respecting Iran's rights in accordance with bilateral treaties," Baghaei added.
However, officials in Kabul say the Pashdan Dam project is necessary for agriculture. Afghanistan's ministry of energy and water says that alongside the Pashdan Dam, plans are underway for the construction of two additional dams on the Harirud River.
