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… Source: thenewhumanitarian.org/
Sunday, April 26, 2026
