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Commission Says 1973 Treaty is Best Solution for Helmand River Dispute

The political commission of the Prime Minister called the 1973 water treaty agreement, signed between Kabul and Tehran, the best solution for the water issue.

Afghanistan and Iran have recently engaged in a severe dispute over the Helmand water treaty.  

The members of the commission, at their periodical meeting, called for good relations with neighbors, particularly Iran, according to the Arg’s Twitter post.

“The meeting of the political commission of the Islamic Emirate decided that we want good relations with our neighbors and the water treaty of 1973 was cited as respectful. All legal sides of the treaty will be reviewed so that everyone can receive their rights,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, press director for the office of the political deputy of the PM.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), whose acting head, Abdul Latif Mansour, also participated in the meeting, said that the Helmand water treaty was reviewed during the meeting.

“In this meeting, all sides exchanged detailed views on this (water) issue. The water treaty of 1973 between Afghanistan and Iran was designated as needing to be observed by all sides,” said Matiullah Abid, a spokesman for the MoEW.

Analysts say that Iran has benefited more than its share from Helmand water within the past five decades.

“I think the main problem is that Iran has been depending on Helmand a lot. During the past 50 years, in which Afghanistan has not been able to manage its water, Iran has invested in this water, even though it's not the owner of it. It channeled the water even beyond Zahedan city,” said Najibullah Sadid, a water expert.

Earlier, the Iranian Minister of Interior, Ahmad Wahidi, at a public forum rejected the statements of Islamic Emirate authorities about the lack of water in the Helmand River and said that the existing reports are "contrary to the claims made, and that is why the officials' field visit is proposed and if there is no water, the issue will be resolved." 

Commission Says 1973 Treaty is Best Solution for Helmand River Dispute

Afghanistan and Iran have recently engaged in a severe dispute over the Helmand water treaty.  

تصویر بندانگشتی

The political commission of the Prime Minister called the 1973 water treaty agreement, signed between Kabul and Tehran, the best solution for the water issue.

Afghanistan and Iran have recently engaged in a severe dispute over the Helmand water treaty.  

The members of the commission, at their periodical meeting, called for good relations with neighbors, particularly Iran, according to the Arg’s Twitter post.

“The meeting of the political commission of the Islamic Emirate decided that we want good relations with our neighbors and the water treaty of 1973 was cited as respectful. All legal sides of the treaty will be reviewed so that everyone can receive their rights,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, press director for the office of the political deputy of the PM.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), whose acting head, Abdul Latif Mansour, also participated in the meeting, said that the Helmand water treaty was reviewed during the meeting.

“In this meeting, all sides exchanged detailed views on this (water) issue. The water treaty of 1973 between Afghanistan and Iran was designated as needing to be observed by all sides,” said Matiullah Abid, a spokesman for the MoEW.

Analysts say that Iran has benefited more than its share from Helmand water within the past five decades.

“I think the main problem is that Iran has been depending on Helmand a lot. During the past 50 years, in which Afghanistan has not been able to manage its water, Iran has invested in this water, even though it's not the owner of it. It channeled the water even beyond Zahedan city,” said Najibullah Sadid, a water expert.

Earlier, the Iranian Minister of Interior, Ahmad Wahidi, at a public forum rejected the statements of Islamic Emirate authorities about the lack of water in the Helmand River and said that the existing reports are "contrary to the claims made, and that is why the officials' field visit is proposed and if there is no water, the issue will be resolved." 

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