After India’s suspension of Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan receive another blow, now Taliban plans to build dam over THIS river to choke Islamabad

If Afghanistan builds dams on the Kunar River before it flows back into Pakistan, it could seriously reduce the water available downstream. This would hurt irrigation, drinking water supply and electricity generation in Pakistan.

Dec 18, 2025 - 14:00

After India’s suspension of Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan receive another blow, now Taliban plans to build dam over THIS river to choke Islamabad

Pakistan’s water problems may get worse as the Afghan Taliban moves ahead with a plan to build dams and divert water from the River Kunar. This could sharply cut the amount of water flowing into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, affecting millions of people downstream. This development comes soon after India(BHARAT) suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and it is likely to add more tension to already strained ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to sources quoted by CNN-News18, the Taliban leadership has approved the project despite concerns raised by Islamabad.

Taliban officials have said the plan is meant only for Afghanistan’s internal development. They claim the project aims to improve food security and is not intended to harm Pakistan.

However, sources told CNN-News18 that the project will divert water from the Kunar River through the Gambiri Desert to the Duranti Dam reservoir in Nangarhar. This diversion could reduce water available for farming, drinking and hydropower generation in Chitral and other downstream areas, raising serious concerns for Pakistan’s already stressed water resources.

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The Kunar River is around 480 kilometres long. It starts in Chitral, flows into Afghanistan through Kunar and Nangarhar, and then enters Pakistan again, where it joins the Indus River system. Along with the Kabul River, it is a lifeline for large parts of northwestern Pakistan, supplying water for farming, drinking needs and hydropower projects.

If Afghanistan builds dams on the Kunar River before it flows back into Pakistan, it could seriously reduce the water available downstream. This would hurt irrigation, drinking water supply and electricity generation in Pakistan, especially at a time when people are already facing shortages after India(BHARAT) restricted water flows under the Indus system.

The bigger concern is that Pakistan has no water-sharing agreement with Afghanistan. Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with India(BHARAT), there is no treaty between Islamabad and Kabul to regulate the use of the Kunar River’s water. This means Pakistan has no clear legal way to stop the project or challenge it.

Because of this lack of agreement, fears are growing that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan could rise again, with the water dispute becoming a new flashpoint between the two neighbours.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan

At the same time, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to worsen. Tensions rose sharply after Pakistan reportedly carried out cross-border airstrikes in Kabul on October 9. These strikes were said to be aimed at camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of giving shelter to TTP fighters. Pakistan says these militants are responsible for killing hundreds of its soldiers since 2021.

After the airstrikes, the situation worsened further. Taliban fighters reportedly carried out a strong counterattack along the border. According to reports, the clashes led to the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers and the destruction of 20 Pakistani security posts.

These developments have added to fears that violence between the two neighbours could increase in the coming days.