Iranian, Afghan Senior Military Officials Meet in Kabul

Defense officials of Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration held a meeting with an Iranian military delegation in Kabul on Saturday, where they discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and address border issues. 
The Iranian delegation was headed by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Bahram Hosseini Motlaq, who sat with his Afghan counterpart, Haji Mali Khan Sadiq, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry reported. 
The senior Afghan official welcomed the Iranian delegation and underlined good ties and cooperation between the two neighbors. 
“The Islamic Emarate has always wanted good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and is committed to further cooperation in various fields,” he said. 
According to the Afghan Defense Ministry’s report, the Iranian team assessed the commitments of both sides as positive and gave assurance about the strengthening of relations. 
The two sides also discussed border issues and ways to expand relations, and stressed the need to solve their problems through negotiation and dialogue, the report said. 

Water Dispute

The meeting was held against a backdrop of conflict over Afghanistan’s violation of Iran’s water rights from the transboundary Hirmand River. 
Hirmand, also known as Helmand, is the longest watercourse in Afghanistan. It rises in the Hindu Kush Mountains west of Kabul and flows in an arc southwest until it empties out into the Hamoun wetlands, located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
Following more than a century of rifts over Hirmand’s water supply, Iran and Afghanistan signed a treaty in 1973 to establish a means of regulating each country’s use of the river.
Iran should receive an annual share of 820 million cubic meters from Hirmand under the accord, which Afghanistan has grossly violated, endangering the lives of many Iranians who rely on Hamoun wetlands for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.
Afghanistan has also built dams on the Hirmand which have constricted the water flow into Iran.
On Thursday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Afghan rulers not to violate the water rights of the Iranian people and “swiftly” supply the country with its share of water from the river.
“I warn the Taliban to take my words seriously, as this is the last time we are resorting to diplomatic solutions. Water paucity is a global challenge and we are determined to stand up for our rights and they are advised to release Iran’s water share before we decide to take other measures,” he said. 
Despite the fact that dams in Afghanistan are full, they are not willing to comply with the terms of contracts with Iran. Nor do they allow Iranian experts to check water reservoirs in their territory, according to Iranian officials. 
Raisi urged the Afghan Taliban to permit Iranian hydrologists to check the water levels of the river. 
Vast areas in Sistan-Baluchestan Province will turn into barren desert, if it does not get its water share and more residents will have to abandon their homeland, as the region has long been suffering from water shortage.