Don't Let Water Go To Other Countries, Stanekzai Tells Taliban's Ministry of Energy
Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, stressed on the need to control Afghanistan's waters at the National Conference on Climate Change in Kabul.
Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, stressed on the need to control Afghanistan's waters at the National Conference on Climate Change in Kabul.
He warned that if the country's water continues to flow uncontrolled to other countries, people will not even have drinking water in the near future.
He called on the group's officials to build dams with "speed, seriousness and sobriety" and control the flow of Afghanistan's rivers.
On Wednesday, January 15, the Taliban's Environment Department held a meeting titled "National Climate Change Conference" in Kabul to review the results and consequences of the 29th World Climate Change Summit.
At the meeting, Abbas Stanekzai said that Afghanistan is facing a water shortage crisis and the water level is constantly declining.
Stanekzai warned, "If we do not control the flow of our water and the water goes to other places indiscriminately, it will be detrimental to us. A day will come when we will not even have drinking water throughout Afghanistan."
He called on the Taliban's Ministry of Energy and Water to use the available facilities to do more in the field of water control and the construction of dams. "I am confident that the Ministry of Energy is working in this area, but these efforts are not enough," he said. “We need to work with more speed, seriousness and poise to control our waters in the next few years."
Referring to the consequences of the long-running wars in Afghanistan, he stated that these wars have caused serious damage to the country's environment. The Taliban official added that about 80% of Afghanistan's forests have been destroyed.
Stanekzai also addressed the UN envoy in part of his speech, saying, "It is your duty to take practical measures in the field of the environment."
The Taliban's dam construction has raised concerns among countries in the region, including Iran and Central Asia.
Referring to the Taliban's dam construction in the western region, Iranian officials have threatened to take their water rights from the Taliban by force. Central Asian countries are also concerned about the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal.
