At the Geneva Donors Conference, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar announced yesterday (24 November) that India will construct the Shahtoot Dam on Kabul river in Afghanistan.
Both governments of two nations have recently concluded an agreement to build this important dam for the betterment of the Afghan people, reports Times of India.
The construction of the Shahtoot dam over the Maidan river tributary of Kabul river would provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city, capital of Afghanistan.
The government of India and Afghanistan started the talks for construction of the Shahtoot Dam in 2016.
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.”
However, Pakistan which considers Afghanistan as its strategic backyard is likely to protest the construction of the dam by India at a time when it has accused India of cutting its water supply from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Afghanistan.