Continuation of desirable relations between Afghanistan and Iran; from active diplomacy to resolving water disputes

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Relations between Afghanistan and Iran, especially during the four years of the Islamic Emirate's rule, have received more attention these days than in the past. The reciprocal visits of high-ranking officials of the two countries, especially the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Afghanistan and the sincere and effective talks with Afghan officials this year, the unprecedented expansion of trade and transit between the two countries, etc. show that despite the efforts of common enemies to create discord, political interactions and long-standing traditions of social, cultural, linguistic, geographical and religious relations are still intact and strong.
In more than four years of the Islamic Emirate's rule, not only have political tensions and tensions not been observed between Afghanistan and Iran, but the political, economic, cultural and social relations between the two countries have become deeper and broader day by day.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Agency, pointed out parts of the improvement in relations between Afghanistan and Iran over the past four years and clarified some ambiguities, including the issue of "Iran's water rights", which some consider to be the cause of tension between the two countries. He once again explained Afghanistan's goodwill towards Iran's water rights.
Mujahid told the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation:
"In my opinion, the dissatisfaction that has arisen is due to climate change. Last year, we did not witness snowfall and rain, and all water resources in Afghanistan dried up; that is, the reserves of the Helmand River decreased, and this affected the electricity situation in Kandahar and other areas and disabled turbines. This is a natural disaster; just as the Islamic Republic of Iran faced drought in some areas, Afghanistan also experienced a similar situation. In principle, we have no problem with the treaty on water rights from the Helmand River, and if there is water, it will undoubtedly reach Iran. This is a natural flow and we will not stop the flow of water. There are also understandings and explanations in this regard, and delegations from Iran have come, and Afghan officials have provided the necessary answers."
These statements were made while Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Mottaqi had previously emphasized: “We have no problem with the 1973 treaty and the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains unchallenged.”
He added that even if there was no treaty, we are not happy from a human and Islamic perspective that our brothers on the other side of the border (Sistan and Baluchestan) should remain without water, because this is far from justice and mercy. He considered the successive droughts to be the main problem that has confronted both countries with challenges.

Iran and Afghanistan; Supporting each other in difficult circumstances
Hamed Elmi, a political expert, also said in an interview with Ava: “Afghanistan has never denied the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to water, but the reality is that due to successive droughts, Afghanistan, like Iran, has faced the problem of water shortage and may not have been able to provide Iran with the water it needs from the Helmand River.”
According to him, “Iran’s water rights are a legal issue and the articles of the treaty are clear and undeniable; but its implementation depends on the capacity, amount of rainfall and the availability of water in the Kamal Khan Dam. Therefore, the Afghan side has been able to convince the Iranian side in many talks.”
Emphasizing that the issue of water rights and some other minor issues cannot damage the political and economic relations between Iran and Afghanistan, he added:
“In the current situation, the issue is much bigger than what is imagined. Afghanistan and Iran are in similar political and economic conditions, and international pressures and sanctions are bringing the two countries closer together.”
According to this expert: “Iran and Afghanistan, with nearly 900 kilometers of common border and the possibility of expanding trade and transit at low costs, can support each other in difficult circumstances and bypass many of the harsh Western sanctions and create new paths for interaction.”
He also described the current political and economic relations between the two countries as satisfactory and emphasized that despite the increasing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, relations between Afghanistan and Iran will develop further in the future.
Chabahar and Bandar Abbas; Key routes for developing Afghanistan's trade with Iran
Meanwhile, Shabir Bashiri, an economic affairs expert, said in an interview with Ava:
"Given the tense political relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the unpredictability of the future, the Afghan government is trying to find alternative trade and transportation routes to Pakistan. In such a situation, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar are the best options for Afghanistan."
According to him, although Bandar Abbas was in second place in Afghanistan's trade interactions after Karachi in the past, now the good political relations between Afghanistan and Iran should be exploited so that Afghanistan's trade is fully connected to Iran.
Indicating some disputed issues, including Iran's water rights, which have not yet fully satisfied Tehran, Bashiri added: "If these issues are not resolved in the future, it could negatively affect the relations between the two countries; although both sides have acted wisely so far."
He also said: “In addition to the water issue, there are also some customs problems on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran that need to be reviewed. It is necessary to adopt incentive policies and both sides should expand trade and transit further by creating the necessary facilities.”
Bashiri believes that “the 1973 memorandum of understanding on Iran’s water rights from the Hirmand River does not meet the conditions today, because the situation has changed and the population on both sides of the border has increased. Therefore, it is necessary to draft a new memorandum of understanding and for the technical and technical delegations of the two countries to address the problems in a serious and up-to-date manner.”
He emphasized: “If political relations between Afghanistan and Iran are not damaged, economic and trade relations will undoubtedly be elevated to a much higher level in the future.”