Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi has warned Taliban to allocate Sistan and Balochistan’s water right to them. During a trip to Sistan and Balochistan, Raisi stressed that Taliban must take this warning seriously and must not complain later that they had not been forewarned.
According to the Mashregh News, on Thursday, Raisi said, “The rulers of Afghanistan should allow our experts to come and check the truth of the matter. If our experts confirm that there is lack of water there then, we will have no say in the matter. However, we will not allow any violation of the people’s rights.”
Iranian president has said that his government is determined to pursue the issue of Iran’s water rights.
Raisi called on the Taliban and said, “I ask Afghanistan rulers to take my warning seriously and take immediate action, so that people of this region receive their rights.”
On Thursday, Chabahar is hosting a special meeting to follow up on Iran’s water rights. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister also warned that the Taliban should open the Kajaki dam in Helmand province 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.
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. 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.
Moinuddin Saeedi, a member of Iran’s parliament said, “While migration from districts of Sistan and Balochistan increase due to lack of water, the Afghan side disrespectfully tells Iran to pray for rain.”
