Iranian FM Tells Taliban To Open Kajaki Dam As Soon As Possible

Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister, urged the Taliban to open the Kajaki Dam in Helmand province of Afghanistan as soon as possible so that “people of Afghanistan and Iran, both get water”.

Amir Abdollahian during a call with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban’s foreign minister, raised Iran’s demands.

Amir Abdollahian and Muttaqi on Wednesday discussed Iran’s water rights during a phone call after the Iranian foreign minister met with his country’s officials in Chabahar.

According to Tasnim News Agency, Amir Abdollahian during a meeting, in which Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, was also present, said, “Our demand is clear. Taliban claims that the dam doesn’t have enough water, but we have clearly stated that according to the agreement of 1973, a joint technical team should determine it. We submitted the names of our technical team, so that they can visit Kajaki dam and judge if there is enough water or not.”

Earlier, the Taliban had said that they accept of Iran’s water rights. Amir Khan Muttaqi had said that if it rains a lot, water will be released to Iran as well. This comment caused a stir among some of the Iranian officials.