Iranian team may inspect water levels in Helmand River: Qomi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and Iran have agreed that an Iranian team could inspect the water levels of the Helmand River.

Iranian envoy to Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi said on Saturday that the two sides agreed that an Iranian team may inspect the water levels of the Helmand River

The agreement comes after Iranian officials accused the Afghan rulers of violating a 1973 water treaty and blocking the flow of water to Iran.

Qomi told Iran’s state TV IRNA that his country expects to be supplied with its rightful amount of water once the team has wrapped up its visit.

Qomi also criticized Afghanistan for having built the Kamal Khan Dam along the Helmand River and said Iran had not been informed of plans to build the dam, which reduces the flow of water to Iran.

Qomi said they welcome the Taliban’s move to accept the terms and conditions of the 1973 water treaty and said there is no tension between the two sides over the actual treaty.

“They said that they agree… We don’t need to say there is a rift (on the matter)… We have told Afghanistan authorities that the issue has created problems only for the Sistan province residents,” Qomi said.

Tension however mounted last month after the Iranian president warned his government will take action if the matter is not addressed by the Afghan rulers.

The Islamic Emirate officials have repeatedly said they are committed to the treaty but due to drought and climate change there is not enough water in the Helmand River to fulfill its agreement with Iran.

Based on the treaty, Afghanistan is obliged to supply Iran with 26 cubic meters of water per second or 850 million cubic meters per year.

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