Taliban Agreed To Lack of Water Verification By Iranian Experts, Says Envoy Qomi

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, on Saturday emphasised on the water rights of Iran from the Helmand River through the 1973 water rights treaty between Iran and Afghanistan.

Qomi recalled the Taliban’s statement about the lack of water in Afghanistan’s dams and said that the Taliban have agreed that Iranian experts can visit the dams and verify these statements.

In an interview, with Seda Va Sima, Iran’s state news agency, Qomi said that the water rights issue will be pursued seriously.

According to Qomi, agreements have been made that "our experts will go to visit the area" in order to lay the groundwork for the release of water.

Qomi who also serves as Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan, did not provide details of the Iranian experts' visit to Afghanistan.

The Taliban have not yet commented on their agreement to allow Iranian experts to visit the Helmand River.

However, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Taliban, earlier told Afghanistan International that the group will not allow the officials of the Islamic Republic to visit the Kajaki Dam.

According to the Taliban official, military installations and dams are sensitive areas and the Taliban does not allow "foreign agents" to visit them.