Kabul: The supreme leader of the ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, has directed the Ministry of Energy to immediately begin the construction of a dam on the Kunar River.

According to Afghan media reports, the Taliban chief instructed authorities to finalize agreements with domestic companies rather than waiting for foreign firms. The order highlights the regime’s push toward self-reliance in major national projects.

Afghanistan’s Minister of Water and Energy, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, stated that Afghans have the full right to manage their own water resources, calling the decision a historic step toward controlling the country’s natural reserves.

The Kunar River originates from Pakistan’s Chitral region, flows for about 482 kilometers through Afghanistan, and later joins the Kabul River before returning to Pakistan.

In earlier statements, Mullah Mansoor had identified the construction of the Kunar dam as one of the top priorities of the Taliban government, aimed at boosting irrigation and power generation in the region.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad would continue to abide by international laws governing trans boundary rivers, underscoring the need for mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries.