Water Diplomacy at River Borders (Case Study: Helmand Border River)

Lack of water resources along with increasing population, lack of proper management of natural resources in the catchment area and diversion of water flow through the construction of dams, wells and cultivation of crops that are not suitable for climate change, have created many problems for border crossings with neighbors. The Qarahqum, Petregan-Khaf, and Hamun-Helmand catchments and the two rivers Harirod and Helmand are shared between Iran and Afghanistan. The Afghan government has caused a water crisis in eastern Iran, including Khorasan and Sistan, due to the construction of several dams upstream of the Harirod and Helmand rivers and disregard for the rights of the downstream countries of these common rivers. Iran, which is witnessing a decrease in water resources due to increasing water consumption, needs to manage its interactions with its neighbors from a water perspective. The question of this study is about the most important fields and reasons for cross-border river dispute between Iran and Afghanistan and what diplomacy has been used. Findings show that lack of proper management, non-compliance with watersheds, extensive dams and various interests of upstream and downstream countries are the most important reasons for disputes over the Helmand border river. Admittedly, a collaborative working group for proper policing between the two sides as well as the interaction of water diplomacy on common water resources is one of the right ways to resolve the two countries disputes. This paper deals with descriptive- analytical method and the use of documentary tools, Internet resources, and use of geographical maps. This paper deals with descriptive analytical method and the use of documentary tools, Internet resources, and use of geographical maps.