The historical problem of Helmand and solutions to reduce the challenges caused by it

• Published in: Pizhūhish/hā-yi tārīkhī-i Īrān va Islām (Online) 2022-04, Vol.16 (30), p.293-320
• Main Authors: Ali Shokri, Hossein Moftakhari, Mirhadi Hosseini
• Format: Article
• Language: per
• ISSN: 2345-2099; 2717-2953
• DOI: 10.22111/jhr.2021.37269.3053

Helmand has long been the main artery of Sistan life and has always played a decisive role for it; However, since the unfair division of the region between Iran and Afghanistan and the lack of sufficient water (for various reasons) in the region, Helmand has gradually become an issue and crisis for the people of Sistan and the Iranian government and the source of differences between the two neighboring countries. This discrepancy has gradually become more pronounced and has taken on a national dimension, with frequent droughts, population growth, mismanagement of water resources, and increased demand for water.This article intends to provide a realistic solution to overcome this crisis and reduce its consequences, while reviewing the historical course of the Helmand issue and the consequences of water shortages and enumerating the existing challenges. Accordingly, the main question of the research is what is the cause of the persistence of the Helmand problem and what strategies and policies can be used to manage the negative effects and consequences of this historical problem in order to eliminate or mitigate it? According to the hypothesis of this study, preventing Afghanistan from entering the share of Helmand water, numerous droughts, especially during the last three decades, and short-term and sometimes ineffective solutions to the Helmand problem, has led to the sustainability of this problem that can be solved by Sentences of constructive diplomacy with the Afghan side, recourse to international law, proper management of water entering the country, observing the pattern of proper cultivation, mechanized irrigation and creating employment in other industries will reduce the negative effects of this issue. This research has tried to study this issue in order to achieve tangible and feasible solutions in a more comprehensive and wide-ranging way. The research has been done with an interdisciplinary approach and descriptive-explanatory method.