Public Law Studies Quarterly

Construction and Utilization of Kamal Khan Dam by Afghanistan in the mirror of international law

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

Hoda Matouri 1
seyed Ghasem Zamani 2
Mohsen Mohebi 3

1 .D. Student in (Public International Law), Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University ,Tehran, Iran

2 Prof., Department of Public and International Law , Faculty of Law and Political ScienceAllameh Tabataba'iUniversity, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Prof. Department of Public and International Law, , Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University ,Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2022.333987.2937
Abstract
Kamal Khan Dam is one of Afghanistan's water facilities on the Helmand River, which has Common water basin with Iran. This water project has had many biological consequences for the Sistan and Hamun region. This study examines the compliance of the international legal system for the utilization and protection of waterways regarding the Kamal Khan Dam in Iran-Afghanistan relations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the conformity or non-conformity of construction and utilization of Kamal Khan Dam with the international legal system of utilization and protection of waterways, And it answers the question of what is the status of the principles and rules of international law of joint waterways in the implementation of the Kamal Khan Dam project? This conclusion was reached by analyzing the treaties, customs, principles and opinions of international courts, That the construction of a dam in Afghanistan is contrary to the general principles of international law, Reasonable and Equitable Principle and No-harm Principle. Also, according to the agreement between Iran and Afghanistan Helmand-River Water Traty 1351, Afghanistan agrees that it shall take no action to deprive Iran totally or partially of its water right to the water of the Helmand. Therefore, misuse and violation of the principles and rules of international law, including unsustainable use of international waterways, in addition to destroying the environment of Sistan, will threaten international peace and security.

Keywords

International waterways
Reasonable and Equitable Principle
water facilities
Kamal Khan dam
No-harm Principle
Subjects

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. Vincent, T., Azizi, M, A., Khalid, B, (2016). Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Case Study Developing transboundary water resources: What perspectives for cooperation between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan? ISBN: 978-9936-628-07-6 (ebook) Editing: Richard Dennis Cover photo: Vincent Thomas AREU Publication Code: 1607E, p42--کتاب

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Aman, F. (2016). Water Dispute Escalating between Iran and Afghanistan. Atlantic Council, SOUTH ASIA CENTER, 1-12.
    3. Harrison, J, (2016). Significant International Environmental Law Cases: 2015–16. Journal of Environmental Law, 28(3), 533–550.
    4. Khan Saif, S. (2021). Decades in making, Afghan mega dam opens on Iran border Kamal Khan Dam will transform economy of Afghanistan, says president, Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/decades-in-making-afghan-mega-dam-opens-on-iran-border/2186632.
    5. Mollazehi, P. M. (2021). Kamal Khan Dam Opportunity or threat. http://www.iess.ir/en/analysis/2599/
    6. Nagheeby, M., Piri D., M, & Faure, M, (2019). The Legitimacy of Dam Development in International Watercourses: A Case Study of the Harirud River Basin. Published online by Cambridge University Press, 247–278.

     

    1. C) Documents
    2. Agenda 21, 1992
    3. BERLIN RULES ON WATER RESOURCES, 2004
    4. Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, 1997
    5. Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, 1996
    6. CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BALTIC SEA AREA, 1992 (HELSINKI CONVENTION)
    7. Reports (20 April 2010 ) Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
    8. Reports (25 September 1997 ) Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia
    9. Montevideo convention on the Duties of states, 1993
    10. C.I.J. Reports (28 June 1937)The Diversion of Water from the Meuse (Netherlands v. Belgium)
    11. united nations conference on the man and environment (stockholm declaration), 1972

     

    References in Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Mohammad Alipour, F. (2017). The Law of Non Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. Tehran: Mizan Legal Foundation (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Akbari, N. , Mashhadi, A., kazemi, H. (2020). The Legal Aspects of Helmand River Utilization. Public Law Research, 68(21), 291-325. DOI:, https://doi.org/10.22054/qjpl.2019.37210.1987 (In Persian).
    3. Azizi, S., Mousavi, S. M. (2016). Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project Case: The Role of the International Court of Justice in Highlighting theConcept of Sustainable Development. Journal of International Law Review , (55), 109-134, DOI: 22066/CILAMAG.2016.23526 (In Persian).
    4. Badiee Azendahi, M. , Rahimi Herabadi, S., Godarzi Mehr, S. (2011). The Role of Morphological Changes Hirmand Border River in Political Relations of Iran and Afghanistan. Journal of human geography research, (78) 197-220 (In Persian).
    5. Bafti, N. Shafiei, Soleimani, S (2021). Relationship between Reasonable and Equitable Principle and No-harm Principle in the International Watercourses Law based on the 1997 Convention. Journal of Public law studies, (51), 1579-1601, https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2021.319646.2708 (In Persian).
    6. Farsha Saeed, P., & Khodarahmi, A. (2016). Investigating how to resolve the dispute caused by Sistan's claim in the Hirmand River based on the 1351 treaty, International Conference on New Researches in Management, Economics and Human Sciences, [Online]. Available: https://sid.ir/paper/875626/fa (In Persian).
    7. Ghoreishi, S. z., Mianabadi, H., Parvaresh Rizi, A. (2021).The TWINS Framework for Illustrating Co-Existing Conflict and Cooperation in the Hirmand River Basin. Iran J Soil Water Res, , (52), 237-300. DOI: 22059/IJSWR.2020.305456.668661 (In Persian).
    8. Hafeznia, M. R., Mojtahedzadeh, P., Alizadeh, J. (2006). Hirmand Hydropolitic and its Effect on the Political Relations of Iran and Afghanistan. Journal of Lecturer of humanities. Geography special issue, (10), 83-107. [Online]. Available: https://sid.ir/paper/6794/fa (In Persian).
    9. Hghshenas, N., Jafari Valdani, A. (1991). The plan to change the Arvand River route and international law. Journal of International Law Review, (12), 255-277.DOI: 22066/CILAMAG.1990.18362 (In Persian).
    10. Jafari, A., Ahmadi, A. (2019). Restitution Damages of the Environmental Crimes in International and Iranian Law System. Journal of Public law studies, (49), 613-633. 1001.1.24238120.1398.49.2.16.2 (In Persian).
    11. Mashhadi, A., Akbari, (2020). The International Obligation of Harirud Riparian States in Marine Construction. Journal of International Law Review , (63), 301-343, DOI: 10.22066/CILAMAG.2020.96365.1600 (In Persian).
    12. Mohammadi Dinani, M. , Molaei, Y. (2018). Banihabib, M. E., Principle of Reasonable Water Use in Iran and International Water Law. Journal of Public law studies, (48), 569-581, DOI: 22059/JPLSQ.2017.226524.1457 (In Persian).
    13. Moradi Tadi, M. (2017). water and politics; A look at the politicization of water. Journal of interdisciplinary studies in humanities, , (9), pages569https://doi.org/10.22631/isih.2017.1981.2512 (In Persian).
    14. Mousazadeh, R., & Abbaszadeh, M. (2016). Legal aspects of the use of Hirmand border river by Iran and Afghanistan,Jornal of Central Asia and The Caucasus Studies, Volume 93, 159-184 (In Persian).
    15. Ramazani Qavamabadi, M. H. (2007). A look at the non-harmful use of land in international environmental law. Journal of Environmental science, (4), 57-74 (In Persian).
    16. Salari, A. (2020). Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment in International Environmental Law. Journal of Public law studies, (50), 1331-1355,DOI: 1001.1.24238120.1399.50.4.3.0 (In Persian).
    17. Zarei, S., Poorhashemi, S.A., Pournouri, M. (2017). Development of international environmental law in the light of International judicial judgements and precedents. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology (JEST), 19, (2), 195-216, DOI: 22034/JEST.2017.11078 (In Persian).

     

    1. C) Thesis
    2. Abbasi, H. (2015). Explaining the concept of fair and reasonable use of international rivers. Master's thesis in the field of International Law, Faculty of Law, Shahid Beheshti University (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 March 2025

  • Receive Date 15 November 2021
  • Revise Date 01 January 2022
  • Accept Date 18 April 2022

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