By Nazir Shinwari in ToloNews, Apr 28, 2023 at 10:57 PM
Iranian media reported that Ali Salajegheh, the Vice President of Iran and head of Iran’s Department of Environment, is expected to travel to Afghanistan to pursue the Helmand water rights issue.
Ali Salajegheh told Iranian media that they are discussing the matter with Afghan officials and in a week or two a delegation will go to Afghanistan to follow up on the water rights issue.
“I will go to Afghanistan within one or two coming weeks to Afghanistan follow up on the issue of water rights,” he said.
The Helmand water treaty has been under discussion between Afghanistan and Iran for a long time.
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that they are committed to the water treaty pact which has been signed between the two countries.
“We are committed to the treaties signed between Afghanistan and Iran. As much as we have the capacity to implement it, we are committed to it. But still, if the delegation comes to Afghanistan and discusses the issue up close, this will be a good and effective step for us,” he said.
The analysts said that solving the issues with the water treaty with Iran will be good for Afghanistan.
“As soon as the agreement is made and the rights that the Iran Islamic Republic has are provided to them, these issues will not cause serious problems between the two friendly countries,” said Hamidullah Yalani, former head of Water Management.
According to the 1973 treaty, Afghanistan is committed to sharing the water from the Helmand River with Iran at the rate of 26 cubic meters of water per second, or 850 million cubic meters per annum.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183151
