Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe ambassador asked the current government of Afghanistan to take practical steps in this regard.
Following the rise of tension over Iran’s water rights from the Helmand River in recent days, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, said the current Afghan government should clarify the issue of Iran’s water rights within a month.
In an interview with Iranian media, Qomi added that if the Islamic Emirate wants Afghanistan to move towards peace and stability, it should have constructive interaction with its neighbors.
“If there was water and the Taliban did not provide it to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, then it is clear how it should act on this issue, which is one of the basic rights of the Iranian nation, and it should happen during this one month,” Qomi noted.
The ambassador asked the current government of Afghanistan to take practical steps in this regard.
“Taliban officials know that they must engage in constructive interaction with their neighbors if they want to have a strong, stable government in their country that includes all of the people’s representatives and the country moves towards peace, stability, independence, territorial integrity, and prosperity,” Qomi said.
In the meantime, Iran’s energy minister said in an interview with the country’s media that Iranian technical team is prepared to visit the Kajaki and Kamal Khan dams in accordance with international law and the 1973 treaty to assess the condition of water rights.
But the Islamic Emirate said that it is committed to ensuring Iran its water rights in accordance with the 1973 pact.
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, noted that the majority of the country’s provinces are presently experiencing drought, and the water level in dams has dropped.
“Water is not at the level where it can reach Iran. Afghanistan is also suffering from a drought. Everywhere across the country, water levels have dropped. We can see that in Helmand, Badghis, Nimroz, and other provinces, people do not have water to drink,” Mujahid told TOLOnews.
“Kajaki dam in Helmand has not been filled with water due to drought and the Kamal Khan Dam is also empty,” said Mohammad Asim Mayar, a water expert.
While farmers and residents of Afghanistan’s Helmand province are experiencing water scarcity and droughts have harmed this area’s farming fields, Iran insists on receiving its water rights based on the 1973 treaty.