INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The second phase of construction of Qosh Tepa irrigation canal in northern Afghanistan was inaugurated on Wednesday in the presence of
senior officials of the Islamic Emirate.At a ceremony officials of the Islamic Emirate said neighboring countries should not worry about the
creation of the canal because their rights will be respected and Afghanistan will use only the share it is entitled to from Amu River.&We
will release the water that is standing now
We will inaugurate the bridge
We will also inaugurate the second phase, which is 65 kilometers long from here,& Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, economic deputy of the prime
minister, said.Acting Minister of Interior Affairs Sirajuddin Haqqani said: &We are pleased to come here for the start of the second phase
Please accept that we are all united for rebuilding Afghanistan
If it is the government or the people, we are all united.&Officials assured countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that the
project will not harm them and their rights will be ensured.Abdul Salam Hanafi, administrative deputy of the Prime Minister, said: &Others
should not worry that we will push the entire Amu River to this side
Inshallah, we respect the rights of our neighbors and we want friendly, good and close relations with all neighbors.&Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid,
Acting Minister of Defense, said: &We will never violate the rights of the neighboring countries that they have from the Amu River, and we
will not interfere in anyone&s rights
But at the same time, we want to get our rights and no one should create obstacles in this regard.&Officials of the Islamic Emirate
emphasized that the door for diplomatic talks is open to the countries that are concerned and that this is the first time in history that
Afghanistan uses water from Amu River.Sher Mohammad Abbas Stankzai, political deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: &We again
assure [everyone] that if our neighbors are concerned in this regard, we are ready to talk to them through diplomatic channels and exchange
Let&s sit together and resolve their concerns diplomatically.&Qosh Tepa canal is of great economic importance for Afghanistan because it can
turn Afghanistan into a food production hub in the region.Attaullah Omari, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, said: &This will be
a canal that will make us self-reliant in the food sector
We will have food independence
We will no longer need to import from neighbors
We will no longer have various diseases and plant and animal pests.&Officials of the Islamic Emirate said at the ceremony that the
government is determined to manage all the waters of the country.The post Second phase of construction of Qosh Tepa canal inaugurated first
