Following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has announced plans to curb Pakistan’s access to cross-border river water. The Afghan Information Ministry confirmed that Taliban Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada has directed the swift construction of a dam on the Kunar River, citing Afghanistan’s “right to water” from its rivers. This decision comes just weeks after a brief but deadly conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which left hundreds of casualties and further strained bilateral relations.

The construction of the dam is being positioned as a strategic move to assert Afghanistan’s control over its natural resources while sending a clear message to Pakistan about water security. Analysts note that this escalation reflects the growing tension between Islamabad and Kabul over transboundary water rights, an issue that has long been a source of friction between the two neighbors. By emphasizing rapid execution, the Taliban leadership aims to demonstrate both authority and self-reliance in managing its water resources.

Experts warn that Afghanistan’s move could have broader regional implications, potentially affecting downstream water availability in Pakistan and heightening diplomatic strains. Water scarcity is already a sensitive issue in South Asia, and such unilateral actions could provoke further disputes over shared rivers. While Afghanistan frames the dam as a domestic infrastructure project, observers say the timing—coming immediately after the India-Pakistan tensions—underscores the political dimensions behind water resource management in the region.