All you need to know about Afghanistan’s Shahtoot Dam

Shahtoot Dam is a proposed dam that will be built by India in the Kabul river basin, one of the five river basins of Afghanistan, after an agreement was signed by both countries on February 9, 2021. Along with it, India also pledged to rebuild Afghanistan committing to $80 million worth of projects, according to an ANI report. 

In a virtual summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar signed the memorandum of understanding in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.

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While signing the agreement, Ghani referred to the dam as the “gift of water” and thanked India for the same.

Shahtoot Dam would provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city and will also be used for irrigating around 4,000 hectares of land in Char Asiab and neighbouring districts. 

As per media reports, the dam will contribute to national food security and increase job opportunities in the conflict-hit country. Its feasibility study had cost $1.86 million, which was completed in 2012.

Around 150 projects have already been announced by India in Afghanistan, according to the reports.