TEHRAN - Talking with a senior Iranian official on phone on Friday the Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that he will personally follow up the flow of Hirmand water Into Iranian territory.

Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi also discussed bilateral ties between Tehran and Kabul as well as regional issues in his telephone conversation with Karzai.

Kharrazi stressed the need for Afghanistan to abide by its commitments to let water from Hirmand River flow into Iran.

Water flow from Kajaki Dam built on Hirmand River in Afghanistan stopped after a temporary release last month onto Iran's parched lands in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province which bears the brunt of severe drought in recent years.

Under a 1972 accord, Afghanistan is obliged to release at least 26 cubic meters (910 cubic feet) of water a second.

Taleban violated the deal during the 1994-2001 rule of Afghanistan and blocked the water from flowing into Iran.

As a result, Iran's famous Hamoun Lake dried up as did other regional pastures, leading to the death of flora and fauna and perishing of cattle and birds in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said last month the water was "Unblocked at the request of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, for only a short period of time, to show the government's goodwill."

thr 028 iran-afghanistan-karzai /gnr/ iranian fm, afghan president karzai talk over phone tehran, nov 8, irna -- iran's foreign minister kamal kharrazi discussed bilateral ties between tehran and kabul as well as regional issues in a telephone conversation with afghan president hamid karzai on friday.

kharrazi stressed the need for afghanistan to abide by its commitments to let water from hirmand river flow into iran.

karzai stressed "important" relations between tehran and kabul and pledged to follow up the matter relating to hirmand river.

water flow from kajaki dam built on hirmand river in afghanistan stopped after a temporary release last month onto iran's parched lands in southeastern sistan and baluchestan province which bears the brunt of severe drought in recent years.

under a 1972 accord, afghanistan is obliged to release at least 26 cubic meters (910 cubic feet) of water a second.

taliban violated the deal during the 1994-2001 rule of afghanistan and blocked the water from flowing into iran.

as a result, iran's famous hamoun lake dried up as did other regional pastures, leading to the death of flora and fauna and perishing of cattle and birds in the sistan and baluchestan province. afghan foreign minister abdullah abdullah said last month the water was "unblocked at the request of iranian president mohammad khatami, for only a short period of time, to show the government's goodwill.