Afghanistan/Iran: Border Clashes and Water Disputes Complicate Taliban-Iran Relations

Jun 8, 2023 | Parisa Abbasian, Diplomat
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Disagreements over water rights have been the leading cause of recent border clashes between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. For decades, Iran and Afghanistan had a dispute over Helmand (Hirmand) River water supplies to Iran’s eastern provinces, mainly Sistan and Baluchistan, and Khorasan-e Razavi. The Helmand’s water is an essential source for the two countries on which they are heavily dependent for agriculture, fishing, and human consumption.