The aim of this research is to examine the prevailing patterns of hypocritical relations between Iran and Afghanistan in the shared river basins of the Hirmand and Harirud.
a combined historical-descriptive-analytical method was employed, utilizing content analysis of historical documents (from the 1930s onward) and trend modeling.
The results of this study indicate that, historically, hydroponically relations in the region have been characterized by patterns of interaction, competition, and dominance over the management of shared water resources. Afghanistan, as the upstream country in these basins, has reinforced a hydro-hegemonic dominance pattern through dam construction projects and unilateral control of water flow, whereas Iran, as the downstream country, has emphasized water diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. This confrontation is driven by multiple factors, including climate change, resource scarcity, and internal political developments in Afghanistan.
Based on the research findings, it is evident that a transition from competitive and dominance-based patterns to a "development-oriented interactive model" is an unavoidable necessity. This model necessitates the strengthening of international legal mechanisms, the participation of regional institutions, and the implementation of joint economic-environmental projects. Furthermore, integrating water diplomacy with integrated resource management, reducing dependence on external resources, and utilizing innovative water treatment and recycling technologies are crucial strategies for ensuring water security and environmental sustainability in the region.
This study's innovative and practical aspects include presenting a combined analytical model of interactive, competitive, influential, and hegemonic patterns in shared water resource management. This model emphasizes historical developments and the influence of geopolitical factors, climate change, and internal political transformations (particularly in Afghanistan). Moreover, the systematic analysis of 100 years of water relations between Iran and Afghanistan in the Hirmand and Harirud basins, has addressed key turning points such as the 1972 Hirmand Treaty, the construction of the Kajaki and Salma dams, and recent unilateral actions