Pakistan faces a growing water crisis as Afghanistan’s Taliban government moves ahead with plans to divert the Kunar River toward Nangarhar province. This development could sharply reduce water flows to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, worsening the country’s already strained water resources.
The plan, approved by Afghanistan’s Economic Commission, aims to supply water to agricultural lands in Nangarhar through the Darunta Dam. While it may ease shortages in Afghanistan, it threatens irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower supplies in Pakistan. Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with India, Pakistan has no formal agreement with Kabul on the Kunar River, leaving Islamabad with limited options to challenge the move.
The Kunar River, originating in Pakistan’s Chitral district, flows into Afghanistan before merging with the Kabul River and eventually returning to Pakistan to join the Indus near Attock. The river is vital for local agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower generation, especially in remote regions that have faced long-standing water scarcity.
Analysts warn that building dams upstream could further strain Pakistan’s water access and may reignite tensions along the border. The move comes amid heightened regional water disputes, including India’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, adding pressure on Pakistan’s already fragile water security.
Experts caution that without a cooperative framework, unilateral projects on cross-border rivers could escalate into broader conflicts, threatening stability in the region. Pakistan now faces the challenge of balancing diplomacy with domestic water needs, while Afghanistan focuses on securing its own water resources.
As the situation unfolds, both countries will need urgent dialogue to prevent the Kunar River from becoming a flashpoint in an already tense relationship.
