Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Taliban's Kunar River Diversion Worsens Pakistan's Water Crisis
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has decided to take water from the Kunar River to help farms in their country.
This river starts in Pakistan and flows into Afghanistan before returning to Pakistan.
The Taliban's plan will take water away from Pakistan, making it harder for people there to get water for drinking, farming, and making electricity.
Pakistan is worried because there is no agreement with Afghanistan about sharing this water, unlike the agreement they have with India for the Indus River.
This could cause more problems between the two countries.
Taliban approves diversion of Kunar River water to Darunta Dam in Nangarhar.
Project aims to resolve water shortages in Afghanistan's Nangarhar but will reduce water flow to Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Kunar River originates in Pakistan, flows through Afghanistan, and returns to Pakistan, joining the Indus River.
Pakistan has no treaties with Afghanistan governing the sharing of Kunar River waters, unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with India.
Diversion could cripple Pakistan's access to water for irrigation, drinking, and hydropower, exacerbating existing water crisis.
- Who
- Taliban government in Afghanistan, Pakistan
- What
- Diversion of Kunar River water to Darunta Dam in Nangarhar
- When
- Approved by the Technical Committee of the Economic Commission
- Where
- Kunar River (originates in Pakistan, flows through Afghanistan and back into Pakistan)
- Why
- To resolve water shortages in Afghanistan's Nangarhar, but will reduce water flow to Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- River
- Kunar River
- Affected Regions
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan), Nangarhar (Afghanistan)
- Project
- Diversion to Darunta Dam
- Impact
- Reduced water flow to Pakistan
- Treaty Status
- No governing treaty with Afghanistan
- Length of Kunar River
- 500 km
- Origin
- Hindu Kush mountains, Chitral district (Pakistan)
- Destination
- Kabul River, then Indus River (Pakistan)
