Pakistan Warns of Water Security Threat from India-Taliban Dam Projects in Afghanistan
Pakistani officials have issued warnings over India’s cooperation with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to construct water infrastructure, saying the move poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s water security and vowing resistance.
According to regional media, the Taliban, with financial and technical support from New Delhi, is planning to build a dam on the Kunar River, which flows into Pakistan after crossing the Afghan border. Officials say this project could reduce the natural flow of water to Pakistan and significantly impact the country’s agriculture sector.
India Today has reported that Indian collaboration with the Taliban extends beyond the Kunar project and includes several other developments such as in Naghlu, Darunta, Shahtoot, Shah wa Aros, Gambiri, and Bagh Dara. These partnerships are taking place despite the Taliban administration lacking international legitimacy, and India’s involvement has sparked political and security sensitivities.
Islamabad has stated that such developments could directly affect Pakistan’s access to water from the Kabul River—a key resource for agricultural production in regions like Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera. Pakistani experts estimate that millions of acre-feet of water reach the country from the Kabul River annually.
In response to what it described as the “malicious plan by India and the Taliban,” the Pakistani government has announced it is formulating a comprehensive defense strategy to counter water-related threats originating from Afghanistan. One aspect of the plan includes diverting the Chitral River—before it enters Afghanistan—toward the Swat Valley.
Officials have emphasized that this water diversion is crucial not only for water security but also for economic development. The project is expected to generate over 2,000 megawatts of clean energy, expand arable land, and help mitigate flood risks.
Pakistan insists that the initiative aligns with international law and is aimed at safeguarding its legitimate water interests. However, analysts warn that the developments reflect deepening distrust between neighboring countries, exacerbated by the absence of a transparent legal framework for managing transboundary water resources.
