Afghanistan’s Hydropower Projects Challenge Pakistan’s Water Security
I would like to predict the coming 5 out of 10 over the years. You might see a small-scale war over water issues. Or a real war between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The chances of a big war between India and Pakistan seem very low. Both countries have nuclear weapons. Always, outside forces will stop such conflicts.
But Afghanistan and Pakistan’s cases are clear. There’s a water shortage in both countries. Afghanistan’s policy is now clear too. It’s decided that the Afghan government will build dams on rivers that give water to Pakistan. This water will be used by Afghanistan’s people. A video of General Mubin, the Taliban’s army general, has come out.
In it, he says, “This water is like blood for us. We can’t let our water flow out. We need it to meet our electricity needs and make our agriculture strong.”
You might have seen Bilawal Bhutto say in Pakistan, “If India stopped the water of the Indus, then it would shed the blood of Indians, etc.” Let’s think about something interesting. Pakistan claims it has won a case against India. This is because India suspended the Indus Water Treaty. This treaty was not restored, as Pakistan believes.
Asim Munir has declared himself the field marshal in Pakistan. This is a big deal, not just a statement from China. The Indus Water Treaty has been suspended, affecting Pakistan’s water supply.
India will cut off water to Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has also decided to stop water flow to Pakistan. This decision was made by the Taliban Army in the Kon region of Afghanistan.
The river starts at the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It flows through Afghanistan and then Pakistan. It merges with the Kabul River, which is crucial for Pakistan.
India is building dams on the Indus River. Afghanistan is building dams on the Kunar River. This will be devastating for Pakistan.
Pakistan might have to go to war. This war will not be against India. The government is committed to the welfare of its people.
Afghanistan’s dam plans are concerning. India’s role will be critical. New Delhi has started engaging with the Taliban at the official level. Our External Affairs Minister has tweeted about it. There have been frequent meetings with Taliban officials. This shows India’s commitment to the region.
India can restart infrastructure work in Afghanistan. Before the Taliban took over, India had completed the Salma Dam. It’s called the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam.
I will show you the dam from a satellite view. It looks stunning. Here, you can see the map of Asia, including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, the Green River is shown. This is the river. The dam looks beautiful, with water behind it. It’s where water is released. On the dam, it’s written Afghan-India Friendship Dam. You can see the flags of India and Afghanistan. The Taliban have not removed the old flag of Afghanistan yet.
This is a symbolic gesture of India. It shows India’s commitment to the region. We will see more such dams in the future.
This dam is on the Green River in Afghanistan. It doesn’t affect Pakistan. The Hari River is far from Pakistan. But India plans to build the Shahtoot Dam, which could be a problem.
Building the dam could be seen as an act of war by Pakistan. In 2021, reports said India might help. But it’s not clear what kind of help they would offer.
India might fund the project, and Afghanistan will provide engineers. Workers from India will help build the dam. The cost is estimated to be around $36 million.
Afghanistan has already agreed to the deal. This project will give clean drinking water to 2 million Afghans. It’s a big step for Afghanistan and has caught the international media’s attention. Many think it’s India’s next move against Pakistan. Experts and officials in Pakistan have spoken out. They say building the dam could lead to war.
Pakistan might reduce water flow from Afghanistan if the dam is built. This could lead to serious consequences. Pakistani officials have warned of escalating tensions and potential conflicts. They have threatened war if a dam is built on the Kunar River. Afghanistan will likely defend itself. Afghanistan’s small population and military make it vulnerable. Afghanistan has the right to use its water. Water scarcity is a big problem there. The Taliban recently highlighted the dire situation.
Afghanistan has limited arable land for farming. India, the USA, Russia, and China have more. Pakistan ranks 16th. Afghanistan ranks 36th.
Farming in Afghanistan is challenging due to lack of water. Only 50% of the land is used for farming. The rest is uncultivated. Building dams is crucial for Afghanistan’s growth. They need to use their water wisely. Afghanistan and Pakistan don’t have a water treaty.
Afghanistan can build dams without worrying about the Indus Water Treaty. India plans to build dams in Afghanistan too. This will be a significant development.