WANA (Jan 26) – The issue of Iran’s water rights from the Hirmand River and the presence of undocumented Afghan nationals in Iran were key topics of discussion during a meeting between Iran’s Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of Afghanistan.

 

In today’s meeting, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, met with Mullah Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of Afghanistan. Araghchi emphasized the importance of resolving two critical issues between the two countries: water rights from the Hirmand River and regulating undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran.

 

Araghchi called for a comprehensive plan to facilitate the return of undocumented Afghan nationals to their homeland, stressing that any Afghan citizen intending to travel to Iran must do so legally.

 

He highlighted Iran’s history of hosting Afghan refugees for over five decades and reiterated that Iran’s policy does not support the mistreatment of migrants.

 

Araghchi urged the transformation of the water dispute into a subject of cooperation and emphasized the need to improve the structure of the Kamal Khan Dam to prevent water wastage in the “Goode-Zereh” basin.

 

He noted residents’ concerns in Sistan and Baluchistan regarding water shortages, calling for technical collaboration between the two nations to secure Iran’s water rights from the Hirmand River.

 

Araghchi also underscored the importance of security for all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, including the Shia community, and preserving and promoting the Persian language as a vital cultural and civilizational link between the two countries.

 

In response, Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of Afghanistan, expressed gratitude to Iran for its long-standing hospitality toward Afghan refugees, describing it as “generous and invaluable.”

 

Regarding the Hirmand River issue, Akhund assured that Afghanistan’s interim government has no policy of withholding water from Iran. He stated that the Ministries of Water and Agriculture have been given instructions to ensure water flows to Iran.

 

“If we have even a single drop of water, we will share it with our Iranian brothers,” he remarked, affirming Afghanistan’s commitment to adhering to the Hirmand Treaty. He added that even in the absence of a treaty, denying Iran water would contravene Afghanistan’s religious, ethical, and humanitarian obligations.

 

Akhund emphasized strengthening ties between the two nations: “Governments come and go, but our peoples remain neighbors and must live together. It is our duty to work for the benefit of both nations,” he said.

 

He also stressed the importance of continuing high-level exchanges between Iran and Afghanistan, stating that such dialogue is essential to addressing minor issues, including potential border disputes, and fostering bilateral cooperation.

 

During his visit to Kabul, Araghchi also met with Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqub, the Minister of Defense of Afghanistan, and discussed bilateral relations.