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Afghanistan’s water reserves have dropped to 69 billion cubic meters per year
Afghanistan’s water reserves, which were estimated at 75 billion cubic meters in the past, have now dropped to 69 billion cubic meters, the Ministry of Water and Energy said on Monday.
Ministry officials emphasized that they have many plans for the future and in the past year, in cooperation with foreign organizations, they have implemented 360 projects in the country, which include the construction of dams, canals and other water projects.
“Afghanistan’s annual amount of water was estimated at 75 billion cubic meters. Due to climate changes that have negative effects on water resources, this figure has decreased to 69 billion cubic meters. We want surface and underground water to be properly managed,” Mujib-ur-Rahman Omarzada, deputy minister of water and energy, said in a press conference in Kabul.
Officials also said they are committed to securing Iran’s rights in accordance with the 1973 agreement, and whenever neighboring countries raise concerns about rights, they are ready to discuss the issue taking international laws into consideration.
They added that they have more than 400 projects to manage the country’s waters and want to increase the amount of electricity production inside the country.
“Our focus is that we can complete the 500 kV power transmission project next year and facilitate the transfer of 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan at a low rate,” Farhad Mahmoudi, head of programs of the Ministry of Water and Energy, said.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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