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IEA’s Muttaqi urges Iran to ‘adjust their expectations’ over water rights
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) foreign minister, said on Monday that the IEA is committed to the 1351 (1973) water treaty with Iran but that Tehran must adjust its expectations considering the drought in the country and the region.
Speaking at an event in Kabul, Muttaqi said “the drought in Afghanistan and the region should not be overlooked”.
His comments come amid growing anger in Iran over what it says is the IEA’s failure to abide by the treaty and supply the country with sufficient water.
Muttaqi however referred to a recent International Rescue Organization (IRC) report which stated Afghanistan is the third most vulnerable country to climate change in the world, and the most damaging effect of climate change has been on the country’s water resources.
“We also expect the officials of Iran to adjust their expectations with the 1351 treaty, and the criteria for judgment and comments should be based on the provisions contained in the treaty,” Muttaqi said.
Addressing the people of Sistan, Balochistan, in Iran, Muttaqi said: “Dear brothers of Sistan, Balochistan, believe that our hearts have sympathy for you as much as it has for the people of Nimroz, Farah and Helmand, and we consider your pain as our pain.”
He added that “it can be seen that there is no water in the Kamal Khan dam. You know that the distance from Kajaki Dam to Sistan Baluchistan is about 600 kilometers, and on the other hand, this desert route and lands are thirsty and without water, and if there is even little water, it will either be absorbed by the ground or evaporate.”
Muttaqi says that the Kajaki Dam, which was built a few decades ago, has unfortunately “reduced its storage capacity to less than half due to the effect of sediment and the lack of dredging.”
He says: “There is a serious need to consider these facts.”
Amir Khan Muttaqi asked Iran not to politicize the vital issue of water.
“It is better to solve such issues (water rights issues) through understanding and face-to-face talks instead of media noises,” Muttaqi said.
He also stated that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has taken steps to resolve problems in the past two years but that this issue is due to climate change.
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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