As per Afghan broadcaster Ariana News, a group of nearly 300 migrants attempted to cross the Kalgan-Saravan border between Afghanistan and Iran on Sunday evening. Iranian forces reportedly opened fire on the group, leading to significant casualties.
Human rights organisation Halush, based in Iran, claimed that 260 Afghan nationals were killed, with dozens more injured. Iranian authorities have yet to comment on the incident or provide any official response.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the government is investigating the tragic event. As the investigation unfolds, further details are awaited.An Iranian human rights organisation has reported that up to 260 Afghans have been killed or seriously wounded by Iranian border police while trying to cross into Iran, a claim Tehran has vehemently denied.
The report, from Haalvsh, states that at least 300 Afghans were trying to cross into Sistan and Baluchestan province on Sunday evening when border police armed with RPGs opened fire, allegedly killing scores of them. Haalvsh said it had spoken to two Afghans who witnessed the incident, as well as sources in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province and in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Local media outlets in Afghanistan have picked up on the news, publishing purported photos and videos of several alleged victims. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate government, said that the authorities in Kabul are still investigating the incident and will make any decisions based on their findings.
Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, said that Tehran has conducted its own investigation into the reports of “dozens of illegal citizens” of Afghanistan being killed on the border and that it had found no evidence to support their validity.
Qomi went on to reiterate that Tehran will not cease deportations of undocumented Afghans, saying: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to return the illegal asylum seekers and deal legally with their illegal entry at all border points.”
Iran and neighbouring Pakistan were the only two countries that carried on deporting Afghans after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
Despite Qomi’s claim that Iran “acts completely lawfully, responsibly and based on the long-standing policy of good neighbourliness, Islamic compassion and commitment to the provisions of international treaties”, when dealing with undocumented Afghans, this is not the first time that Iranian forces have been accused of killing Afghan nationals near its borders.
In 2020, Iranian police were accused of shooting at a vehicle carrying refugees that caused a fire and led to the deaths of at least three Afghans. The aftermath of that incident was also caught on mobile phone video and led to an online campaign. In 2022, Amnesty International issued a report on Afghans routinely coming under fire while trying to cross into Iran.
Though the Islamic Republic enjoys good relations with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, Iran has long been accused of violence, discrimination, and abuse of Afghans. Rights organisations have repeatedly called out officials and civilians for anti-Afghan sentiments and policies.
