KABUL (SW) – After a long spell of arguments on claim over water flow rights, Iranian authorities announced the release of water from Afghanistan’s Kamal Khan Dam towards Iran.
Hasan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, broadcast a video on his Twitter the other day and wrote that as a result of their continuous diplomatic interaction and the use of public diplomacy, a portion of water from the Kamal Khan dam has finally been released towards Sistan and Baluchistan province of this country.
Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan has emphasized that this will continue for the continuation of the stable flow of water. He said: “With continuous diplomatic interaction and taking advantage of the capacity of public diplomacy and inter-institutional coordination at the national level, this Saturday, the water released from the Afghan side entered the wells of Sistan.”
The arrival of water at the border point of Iran and Afghanistan has been welcomed by the residents of Sistan and Baluchistan province. Residents of Sistan and Baluchistan Province have reported on social networks about the water reaching this region.
Meanwhile, a reliable source in Nimroz, who did not want to reveal his identity, told Salaam Watandar that more than 10 days have passed since the reopening of spillway of Kamal Khan dam in Nimroz. He added that the excess water of the canal flows to Iran. According to the source, 20 to 30 cubic meters of water per second is released from Kamal Khan Dam to meet the needs of the people and farmers of Nimroz, and a small part of this water goes to Sistan and Baluchistan Province due to its addition.
On the other hand, Akhtar Mohammad Nusrat, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy and Water, told Salaam Watandar that they have released some water of the Kamal Khan dam to meet the needs of the people and farmers of Nimroz province. He rejects the complete release of water from Kamal Khan dam towards Iran and added that a limited amount of water may have entered Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province. “This water has been released from under the Kamal Khan dam for the sake of the people and farmers of Nimroz. These farmers repeatedly protested, requested to the province, even their message reached the ministry, that’s why we left the water. Maybe a little of the water went to Iran; But our goal is not to give up water because of Iran.”
Contradictory reports about the release of the Kamal Khan Dam have been spreading, while recently the Iranian authorities have continuously emphasized the country’s claim to the Hirmand River and have warned the Islamic Emirate in this regard.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian said in a conversation with Amir Khan Mutakki, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, that if the issue of the Helmand River is not resolved, relations between the two countries will become more strained.
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