KABUL (SW) – Ensuring water rights from the Helmand River has been Iran’s long standing demand from Afghanistan, which was once again expressed by Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador and special representative for Afghanistan, in a meeting with Amir Khan Mutaqqi, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Kabul.
Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s new ambassador to Afghanistan, in this meeting, in addition to emphasizing on securing his country’s water rights from the Helmand River, suggested that Afghanistan’s water should be properly managed and its loss prevented.
Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The Minister of Foreign Affairs clarified the position of the Islamic Emirate on Iran’s water rights and said that Afghanistan is committed to the treaty, but the small amount of rain has caused a lack of water supply to Iran.”
Following the recent political developments and the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan, Iran was one of the first countries to initiate a balanced interaction with the current government.
However, in less than a year and a half, the Iranian government has repeatedly requested the provision of its water rights from the Helmand River by the Islamic Emirate.
The Islamic Emirate has always emphasized that the drought and lack of water is the reason for lack of enough water flowing to Iran from Afghanistan.
Mehboob Mohaq, an expert on international relations, told Salam Watandar that the emergence of the Islamic Emirate had raised hopes for Iran that it would be able to have better relations and resolve these issues, but the issues between Afghanistan and Iran have not been resolved. “Not a single meeting to resolve this issue and determine water rights have been held so far.”
On the other hand, Nurul Rahman Saqib, another expert on international relations, said solving the issue of water rights requires a continuous government. “If there is a stable government in Afghanistan, maybe this issue will be resolved to some extent.”
Experts added that due to climate changes and the environmental situation of Afghanistan and Iran, the unresolved issue of water rights between the two countries can become a serious issue in bilateral relations with the passage of time.
ENDS
