India Planning To Build Shahtoot Dam On Kabul River To Aid Afghanistan; Pakistan Likely To Oppose Move

Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar announced yesterday (24 November) at the Geneva Donors Conference that India will be constructing the Shahtoot Dam on Kabul river in Afghanistan and that the Governments of two nations have recently concluded an agreement for the same, reports Times of India.

Dr Jaishankar had also said that the dam's construction would provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city which is the Afghan capital. The dam would come upon the Maidan river tributary of Kabul river. The conversations for construction of the Shahtoot Dam had begun in 2016.

Reacting to the development, India's former Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha expressed delight and said, "I am happy to learn of India's commitment on constructing the Shahtoot Dam on Kabul river. It is essential for drinking water supplies to Kabul which is staring at serious water shortage." he added, "We should, together with Afghan partners, expedite work on this project for which basic groundwork has been done."

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is likely going to launch a vehement protest to oppose the dam which is to be constructed by India. This comes as Pakistan has accused India of choking its water supply from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Afghanistan.