Evaluation of Environmental Factors Affecting Hydropolitics of Helmand Transboundary Basin

Abstract Water is a highly political issue today, and the Middle East is one of the world’s most critical regions in terms of water policies and conflicts. Afghanistan, a source of several major rivers, faces numerous hydropolitical challenges with its neighbors. One of these rivers, the Helmand River, is central to the ongoing dispute between Iran and Afghanistan. The Helmand River drains half of southern Afghanistan and provides approximately 80 % of the water to the uninhabited areas of the Sistan province in Iran. In fact, Helmand is Sistan’s vital artery. The river feeds into four wetlands: Hamoun Helmand, Hamoun Saberi, Hamoun Bringak, and Hamoun Pozak. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental factors influencing Helmand hydropolitics by examining land use changes in the Helmand River catchment in three categories—water, vegetation, and soil—from 1986 to 2021. The results reveal that environmental factors have significantly impacted the hydropolitics of the Helmand Basin, causing severe water shortages in Sistan, the downstream area of the catchment. This has disrupted the natural, human, and animal ecosystems in the region. The detection of land use changes in the Helmand River Basin (1986–2021) and subsequent data analysis confirm the role of environmental factors in exacerbating political decisions regarding the Helmand Basin.