Tehran, Iran – Tensions escalated on the Iran-Afghanistan border as Iranian authorities have been accused of killing or seriously injuring between 200 and 260 Afghan refugees during a recent border incident. Reports from the Iranian human rights organization, Halvah news agency, claim that the Iranian border police opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades on a group of approximately 300 Afghan migrants attempting to cross into Iran in the Sistan and Baluchestan province during the night of October 14-15. Eyewitnesses, cited by Halvah, reported that the border police began firing as soon as the refugees approached the Iranian border, resulting in numerous fatalities and severe injuries among the migrants.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned these allegations, urging Afghan authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Tolo News, a prominent Afghanistan-based media outlet, corroborated these claims, highlighting the shocking nature of the attacks on vulnerable individuals seeking refuge. In response to these accusations, Iran has vehemently dismissed the reports as unfounded and part of a broader propaganda effort. Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, labeled the claims as “not true,” criticizing the media for spreading what he termed “the frenzy of the lying media.”
Qomi emphasized that border security is a collective responsibility between neighboring countries, and insisted that Iran has the right to prevent illegal crossings. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to return unauthorized refugees and to legally address their illegal entry at all border points,” he affirmed. The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has announced its own investigation into the reported casualties and stated that various governmental bodies are working to verify the claims. Officials are expected to provide clarity once their investigations are concluded. The situation remains tense as Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on Afghan migrants, influenced by economic pressures stemming from Western sanctions and the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The United States recently imposed additional sanctions targeting Iran's energy trade following a ballistic missile attack by Iran against Israel on October 1, in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. The plight of Afghan refugees has intensified in recent years, particularly after the Taliban's resurgence in 2021, which led to a mass exodus of thousands fleeing the country. Both Iran and Pakistan host millions of Afghan migrants, yet both governments have increasingly enforced measures to control and limit the presence of refugees within their borders, leading to growing concerns over their safety and human rights.
