In India–Afghanistan relations, the Afghan–India Friendship Dam located in Herat province is officially known as which dam?

Introduction / Context:
The Afghan–India Friendship Dam is an important symbol of cooperation between India and Afghanistan in the field of water resources and infrastructure development. It often appears in questions on Indian geography and international relations because it highlights India's role in assisting a neighbouring country with a major hydroelectric and irrigation project. Knowing its official name helps you connect news articles, exam questions, and map based facts correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The project is referred to as the Afghan–India Friendship Dam.
• It is a dam project implemented with Indian assistance in Afghanistan.
• The dam is located on the Hari River in Herat province of western Afghanistan.
• The question asks for the official or commonly used traditional name of this dam.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you should recall the alternative names of major dams and projects that are often mentioned in current affairs. Many projects have both a technical or historical name and a popular media name. The Afghan–India Friendship Dam is widely reported in newspapers, government releases, and international news under one specific traditional name. By matching that known name with the options, you can identify the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Afghan–India Friendship Dam is a hydropower and irrigation project constructed by India in Afghanistan. Step 2: Remember that this dam is built on the Hari River near Chishti Sharif in Herat province. Step 3: From news and government sources, the same project has long been known as the Salma Dam, a name used even before it was rededicated as the Afghan–India Friendship Dam. Step 4: Check the options: Zangmu Dam is a Chinese project on the Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra; Baglihar Dam is on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir; “None of the above” would be correct only if no option matched, which is not the case. Step 5: Therefore, the only correct match for the Afghan–India Friendship Dam is Salma Dam.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the answer by recalling that when the project was inaugurated after completion, Indian and Afghan leaders repeatedly referred to it as the Salma Dam in their speeches and official documents. Exam oriented geography books and current affairs magazines also mention “Salma Dam (Afghan–India Friendship Dam)” as a single combined phrase. This cross checking from multiple sources confirms that Salma Dam is the accepted official and traditional name of the project.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Zangmu Dam is a hydroelectric project constructed by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra River in Tibet, not in Afghanistan. Baglihar Dam is a hydroelectric dam built by India on the Chenab River in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and has no connection to Afghanistan. “None of the above” is incorrect because one of the listed names, Salma Dam, exactly matches the traditional name of the Afghan–India Friendship Dam.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different international dam projects because many appear in news at the same time. Another common mistake is to assume that a name with more publicity, like an India–China or India–Pakistan project, must be the answer. Some may also be tempted by “None of the above” when they do not immediately recall the name. To avoid these errors, it is useful to maintain a short list of major dams with alternative names, especially those connected to India’s foreign aid or regional cooperation. Linking the keyword “Afghan–India Friendship Dam” directly with “Salma Dam” in your memory will help you answer correctly in exams.

Final Answer:
The Afghan–India Friendship Dam in Herat province is officially known as the Salma Dam.