Recently, a Tajik commander of the Taliban Abdul Hamid Khorasani alias Badri has threatened to attack Iran openly after the Helmand river dispute incident. This would only escalate the worsening situation. At the end of the last month May 2023, a border clash at the crossing point between Nimroz of Afghanistan and Sistan-Baluchistan of Iran occurred causing 2 Iranian soldiers and 1 Afghan border guard’s death. Until now several Helmand River dispute incidents have taken place between the Islamic neighboring countries.
What worries Iran is that its Hamoun Lake, a Unesco-listed wetland heritage, in the Sistan-Baluchistan province is dependent on the water flow from the river Helmand. The Taliban built a river dam in Helmand for electric power generation. The dam was also built to reserve water to irrigate much-unused lands in Afghanistan. After coming to power in 2021, the Taliban took the initiative in order to improve the poor economic and agricultural situation of Afghanistan. However, what matters is that as per the river water treaty of 1973 between the 2 countries, Iran is due to get more than 800 cubic meters of water whereas presently she is getting only 27 cubic meters of water that inevitably causing drought and deforesting the Hamoun lake and on its natural habitations. What was worrying is that diplomatically isolated Afghanistan did not communicate with Iranian officials before erecting the dam though she said that she wants peace with her neighbor. Moreover, the Taliban leadership hardly had any effort to build diplomatic relations or send a convoy to Tehran. On the other hand, in response to the water crisis on the Iranian part, the Iranian president Mr. Raisi visited the affected place and warned Afghanistan of Iranians’ rights and of the consequence of her deed though Iran sought diplomatic ties with Afghanistan after Taliban regained their power in 2021, and even, previously, had denounced the US presence in Afghanistan in the then time. And, the border face-off incident took place at the end of last month. It has been reported that the Taliban used the weaponry that was left by the US in 2021 in their border shootout with the Iranian border force. On the other hand, a Taliban commander Abdul Hamid roared with a threat that he would invade Iran in 24 hours which caused tension to the concerns.
What mistakes are being made by the 2 countries is that the Iranian president should have used soft diplomacy instead of going on hardline on the issue. On the other hand, a Tajik commander should not have been allowed to give statements. The Taliban should not have forgotten that the Tajik leader Abdur Rashid Dostom, a warmonger who changed sides several times’ once with the USSR and another time with the US respectively. It was Dostom who was a key player in driving away the Taliban from power in 2001.
The Taliban has come to power as a new child and they have a long way to go. However, the question now is how good are they now than the previous Taliban in power. Moreover, as the US did not see any alternative to the Taliban in Afghanistan and left the country on whatever policy, what mattered was that despite so much aid, the Afghan National Government did not last. And, the Taliban should not forget their past mistake for they were out of power for over 20 years. The point to highlight is that the top terrorist group al-Qayeda got resort in Afghanistan by the Taliban who caused havoc and panic with the barbaric attack on Twin Towers, New York in 2001.
Again, what a crucial mistake, or more to say that they crossed the limit when it is said in Islam ‘not to overdone with religion . . .’ and despite the Chinese request not to destroy the Buddhist sculptures in Bamiyan, the Buddhist heritage in Afghanistan, Taliban blew up the ancient valuable statues in early 2001 and shocked the world. And, in the same year, they were swept away from the power.
If the Taliban forgot their past lessons, it would be fatal for them. They should be aware of ignorant and non-sense leaders. International affairs should be handled by politicians. They need to understand and shod not give access to radical commanders like Abdul Hamid in such roles. Afghanistan should also not forget that they need to go far on the path of development, and there are so many sacrifices to be done including sacrificing their ego, and they even do not have the economic and logistics, and manpower to fight even a weaker state.
Iran, on the other hand, as one of the top regional power, should call the Afghan convoy and international water dispute resolution authority for mediation. The South-Central-Asia does not want to see a combat zone anymore in their yard. The peace-loving people of this part of Asia do not want to hear the roar of the Taliban militants and the momentum of havoc by Iranian missile attacks.
