• Source:JND
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In a provocative claim that has flared up amid rising tension, a Baloch activist has alleged that Afghanistan of plotting to build new dams to cut the flow of water into Pakistan. The move, if true, would represent a serious escalation in South Asia's water treaty game, following India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Mir Yar Baloch, a Baloch writer and political activist, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: “This is the beginning of the end of NaPakistan. After Bharat, now Afghanistan is preparing dams to cut the flow of its water to NaPakistan.” The post has since drawn widespread attention, though officially there has been no confirmation from either the Taliban regime in Kabul or from Islamabad.

Taliban General Said To Approve Dam Construction in Kunar

As the post mentions, the top Taliban official, General Mubin, recently toured the eastern Afghanistan province of Kunar, an area through which the Kunar River runs into Pakistan. The Kunar River, a major tributary of the Kabul River, is an important source of freshwater for the agricultural lands of northwestern Pakistan. Taliban regime's army Gen "Mubin visited the Kunar area and inspected the dam and urged the government in Kabul to collect funds and make multiple dams, Mir wrote on X.

General Mubin reportedly identified potential dam locations and called on the Afghan government to start construction. “This water is our blood, and we can’t allow our blood to flow out of our veins. We have to stop our water, which can help overcome our electricity needs and make our agriculture more robust,” General Mubin was quoted as saying. Notably, Afghanistan dominates the headwaters of some eastern tributaries that flow into Pakistan, and has already talked of developing its water resources for hydropower and irrigation.

India's Revised Strategy On Indus Waters Treaty

Indus water treaty suspension marks a dangerous turning point in India-Pakistan relations, risking not only bilateral peace but also regional water stability. The decision came after the April 22 Kashmir terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Recently, government officials informed Reuters that they are instructed to expedite water-infrastructure projects that would allow India to accelerate its authority over rivers flowing into Pakistan. Among the most important proposals is the doubling of the length of the Ranbir canal on the Chenab River. New Delhi is also preparing blueprints to expand hydropower production in Jammu and Kashmir from the existing 3,360 megawatts to almost 12,000 MW, internal government reports cited by Reuters reveal. This move indicates India is planning to divert more water from the Indus river system in the future, which is primarily designated for Pakistan’s use amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Also read: With Indus Waters Treaty In Abeyance, India's Mega Canal Plans, Additional Restrictions Could Leave Pakistan Thirsty

This will significantly decrease water supply from both the eastern (Afghanistan) and western (India) sides would have a heavy impact on Pakistan's agro-based economy, already reeling under water scarcity and management issues. Without any current water-sharing arrangement with Afghanistan, Islamabad could be forced to initiate diplomatic efforts if Kabul proceeds with dam construction. So far, neither the Afghan Taliban regime nor the Pakistan government has made a formal announcement on this move.

Also read: 'We Will Die of Hunger': Pakistan Turning Into Desert Without Indus Water? Here’s Shocking Reality