Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have recently escalated amid reports that the Taliban-led Afghan government plans to construct dams on key water bodies to restrict the flow of water to Pakistan. This development adds a new dimension to the already strained relations between the two neighbors, which have been marked by military clashes and diplomatic confrontations in recent months.
According to the Afghan Information Ministry and multiple media outlets, the directive to build these dams came directly from Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. Afghan Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor publicly justified the move, stating on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that “Afghans have the right to manage their own resources.” This assertion underscores Kabul’s stance that water resource management is a sovereign right, even as it risks further aggravating tensions with Islamabad.
The timing of Afghanistan’s reported dam-building plans is significant, coming just days after deadly border clashes between the two countries. Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province, targeting residential areas in the Argun and Barmal districts. These strikes reportedly killed 17 people, including three Afghan cricketers, and caused considerable civilian casualties, according to reports citing Afghan media outlet Tolo News. The airstrikes represent a sharp escalation in hostilities along the contentious Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a region that has long been a flashpoint for conflict.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Qatar brokered an agreement in which both Pakistan and Afghanistan consented to an “immediate ceasefire.” The announcement included plans for follow-up talks aimed at ensuring the ceasefire’s sustainability. This diplomatic intervention reflects the regional and international community’s concern over the escalating violence and the potential for broader instability.
The tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are occurring against a backdrop of strained India-Pakistan relations, which have also seen recent developments involving water disputes. On April 22, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility for the attack but subsequently retracted the statement. This incident prompted India to take several diplomatic measures against Pakistan, most notably the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, is a crucial water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan that governs the distribution of water from the Indus River and its tributaries. India’s suspension of the treaty marks a significant escalation in bilateral tensions, signaling New Delhi’s dissatisfaction with Islamabad’s alleged support for terrorist activities and its unwillingness to curb cross-border terrorism.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched “Operation Sindoor,” a military campaign targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan, further complicating the already fragile security environment in South Asia.
Despite these escalations, a cessation of hostilities was announced on May 10, following communication between Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and his Indian counterpart. This ceasefire offers a tentative reprieve from violence, though the underlying disputes, including issues related to terrorism and water sharing, remain unresolved.
The overlapping conflicts involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India highlight the complex and interconnected nature of regional security challenges. Afghanistan’s move to restrict water flow to Pakistan through dam construction can be viewed within this broader geopolitical context, where water resources have become a strategic tool and a source of contention.
Water scarcity and resource management are critical issues in South Asia, where rivers often cross international borders, making cooperative arrangements essential for regional stability and development. The construction of dams or other water control structures without bilateral agreements risks exacerbating tensions, disrupting livelihoods, and potentially triggering further conflicts.
Afghanistan’s assertion of sovereignty over its water resources, while legitimate under international law, poses a direct challenge to Pakistan’s water security. Pakistan relies heavily on rivers originating in Afghanistan for agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectric power generation. Any significant reduction in water flow could have severe economic and social consequences for communities in Pakistan’s border regions.
The situation underscores the urgent need for dialogue and cooperative water management frameworks between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Historical mistrust and security concerns have often hampered such cooperation, but the alternative—a cycle of unilateral actions and retaliatory measures—threat