Tehran, Kabul to Expand Energy, Water Cooperation

During the Sunday meeting in Tehran, Ardakanian and Takal called for mutual cooperation between the two states for full implementation of 1973 Helmand Water Treaty.

The Iranian energy minister urged the Afghan government to join UNESCO's Urban Water Management Program.

In the meantime, the Afghan official, for his part, thanked Iran's support for Afghanistan in energy and water fields and called for promotion of two countries' bilateral cooperation.

In a related front, Iranian and Afghan commissaries held the 19th meeting of their joint committee in Tehran on Saturday to address the issue of the water right of the Helmand River.

The meeting kicked off in the morning in Iranian Ministry of Energy, aiming to address water right issues under 1973 Helmand River Treaty; talks are underway for better implementation of the agreements.

The two countries were represented by deputy ministers for the first time, planned through diplomatic coordination.

The joint committee of commissaries of Helmand water is held annually since 2005, under 1973 Helmand River Treaty; so far 18 meetings have been held in Iran and Afghanistan.

Last Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Iran is determined to expand ties with Afghanistan.

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