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On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi embarked on an official visit to Kabul, marking the first time an Iranian diplomat has traveled to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. This visit signifies a notable development in the relationship between the two nations, which had previously engaged in fierce conflicts over water access, particularly concerning the Helmand River.
During his visit, Araghchi held discussions with the Taliban’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The talks centered around various bilateral issues, such as shared water resources, illegal migration from Afghanistan into Iran, and trade relations between the two countries.
Iran Warns Taliban Over Water Dispute
Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi met Taliban PM Mullah Hassan Akhund in Kabul, urging the implementation of the Helmand River Agreement and raising concerns over water and refugee issues.
Iran previously warned of missile strikes over the dispute. pic.twitter.com/7QBKYSaKza
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“Iran’s security and stability are dependent on the security and stability of Afghanistan,” Araghchi was quoted as saying, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the neighboring countries.
The timing of Araghchi’s visit is particularly significant, as it comes amidst renewed international condemnation of the Taliban’s dismal human rights record. Just last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, requested arrest warrants for the Taliban’s “supreme leader,” Haibatullah Akhundzada, and his top judge, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, on charges of crimes against humanity for their egregious abuses against women and girls.
“These applications recognize that Afghan women and girls as well as the LGBTQI+ community are facing an unprecedented, unconscionable and ongoing persecution by the Taliban,” Khan’s statement read.
Despite these concerns, the Taliban’s Bakhtar News propaganda outlet portrayed the visit as a “significant opportunity” for discussions on “mutual interests and bilateral issues,” with a particular emphasis on economic cooperation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after meetings with Taliban officials in Kabul that the Taliban regard Iran’s water rights from the Helmand River as a “religious and humanitarian obligation” that extends beyond existing treaties. https://t.co/mNtdxSKItF pic.twitter.com/WqRTmVzUXr
— SAMRIReports2 (@SReports2) January 27, 2025
One of the key issues addressed during the talks was the shared access to the water of the Helmand River, which has been a longstanding point of contention between the two countries. Araghchi insisted that Iran has never sought to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and called for the full implementation of the Hirmand River agreement, signed in 1973, to resolve the water issue.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zia Ahmad Takal, acknowledged the impact of climate change and drought conditions on water availability in the region, stating that Afghanistan strives to ensure equal water access for both sides of the border.
While both Iran and the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan have been widely criticized for their abysmal human rights records, particularly regarding the treatment of women, the visit underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics and the pursuit of strategic interests in the region.
