DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A United Nations expert is urging an investigation into claims that Iranian security forces launched an attack on the Afghan border, leading to the deaths and injuries of migrants.
Iran has countered these allegations, asserting that no shooting occurred on Sunday near Saravan, a town located in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, adjacent to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
In recent months, hostility towards Afghan migrants has intensified in Iran, particularly as Western sanctions continue to impact its economy. Iran’s police chief has announced plans to deport approximately 2 million migrants in the next six months.
The Taliban announced on Thursday that they would release information after completing their investigation into the alleged incident. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s main spokesperson, acknowledged the circulation of rumors concerning Afghan casualties at the Iran border but emphasized that the information remains unverified. He stated, “The necessary decision will be taken after clarification of the matter,” in a post on social media platform X.
HalVash, an advocacy organization supporting the Baluch community and focusing on issues in Iran, has published multiple reports about the shooting. They cited accounts from two anonymous witnesses and others, claiming that the death toll may reach into the dozens, with additional injuries reported. The group released images reportedly showing bodies and individuals with gunshot wounds, alleging that Iranian security forces employed firearms and rocket-propelled grenades during the incident.
However, independent verification of these allegations remains challenging. Sistan and Baluchistan has long been plagued by insurgency and violence linked to cross-border drug trafficking, complicating the gathering of accurate information.
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has voiced his serious concern and called for a transparent inquiry into the reported attack. He expressed on social media, “I call for authorities to investigate transparently. Clarity is urgently needed.” He further noted that these allegations are part of a broader context, emphasizing the need for improved dignity and safety for Afghans globally.
Iran has started to refute the claims. General Reza Shojaei, a commander of the provincial border guard, dismissed the reports of any shooting as “basically false.” Similarly, Hassan Kazemi Ghomi, the Iranian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan matters, labeled the reports “not true” and attributed their dissemination to what he described as “the frenzy of the lying media.”
For decades, Iran has hosted large numbers of Afghans, beginning with the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, continuing through the Taliban’s first regime, the 2001 US-led invasion, and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The United Nations refugee agency estimates that there are around 3.8 million displaced individuals living in Iran, with the vast majority being Afghan nationals. Some sources in Iran suggest that the actual number of Afghans might be even higher.
Recently, Iranian authorities have indicated a desire to increase the deportation of Afghan migrants. Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan earlier in the month announced intentions to deport 2 million undocumented migrants in the forthcoming six months, although he refrained from explicitly naming them as Afghans. He noted that about 500,000 migrants had already been deported.
“We cannot allow some individuals to enter the country illegally, reside, and work,” he remarked. He cautioned citizens and business proprietors that accommodating or employing undocumented foreigners is a criminal offense.