Abstract
Afghanistan is considered one of the weakest political and governmental entities within the Asian security framework and exhibits the characteristics of a failed state. This situation has led the country to use water as one of its most important strategic tools, leveraging it as a source of power in its political and security interactions within the region. Therefore, understanding the role and significance of water for Afghanistan—especially in its political, social, and economic relations with neighboring countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran—is of great importance. Some experts believe that the only issue capable of affecting the trajectory of Iran-Afghanistan relations, which have so far been based on a solid foundation and warm ties, is the matter of shared water resources, especially the Helmand River.
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Kamal Khan Dam and Its Diversion Canals: Afghanistan’s Kamal Khan Dam diverts Helmand River water away from Iran, threatening its water supply and agriculture. Large-scale canal projects and planned Pashtun resettlement near the border pose added social and security risks. No water-sharing deal exists for the Hamoun wetlands.
Introduction to Bakhshabad Dam
The Farah River, a key tributary of the Helmand basin, is vital for sustaining the Hamoun wetlands. Afghanistan is building the Bakhshabad Dam on this river, which could restrict water flow to the wetlands. This threatens the environmental health of Sistan and the shared Hamoun wetlands, which rely partly on Farah River for their water supply.
This study was conducted at Rastaar ThinkTank, in collaboration with Hojjat MianAbadi and Seyedeh Zahra Ghoreishi under the order of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy in 2023.
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