The Kunar River is around 480 kilometres long. It starts in Chitral, flows into Afghanistan through Kunar and Nangarhar, and then enters Pakistan again, where it joins the Indus River system. Along with the Kabul River, it is a lifeline for large parts of northwestern Pakistan, supplying water for farming, drinking needs and hydropower projects.
If Afghanistan builds dams on the Kunar River before it flows back into Pakistan, it could seriously reduce the water available downstream. This would hurt irrigation, drinking water supply and electricity generation in Pakistan, especially at a time when people are already facing shortages after India restricted water flows under the Indus system.
The bigger concern is that Pakistan has no water-sharing agreement with Afghanistan. Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with India, there is no treaty between Islamabad and Kabul to regulate the use of the Kunar River’s water. This means Pakistan has no clear legal way to stop the project or challenge it.
Because of this lack of agreement, fears are growing that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan could rise again, with the water dispute becoming a new flashpoint between the two neighbours.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan
At the same time, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to worsen. Tensions rose sharply after Pakistan reportedly carried out cross-border airstrikes in Kabul on October 9. These strikes were said to be aimed at camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of giving shelter to TTP fighters. Pakistan says these militants are responsible for killing hundreds of its soldiers since 2021.
After the airstrikes, the situation worsened further. Taliban fighters reportedly carried out a strong counterattack along the border. According to reports, the clashes led to the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers and the destruction of 20 Pakistani security posts.
These developments have added to fears that violence between the two neighbours could increase in the coming days.
