A minimum of three killed in conflict on Iran-Afghan border

Two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter had been killed after capturing broke out close to a border publish between Iran and Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman and Iran’s state media say.

It was not instantly clear what had provoked the incident, wherein a number of folks had been additionally injured, nevertheless it got here amid tensions between the 2 international locations over water rights.

Iran has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of violating a 1973 treaty by proscribing the move of water from the Helmand river to Iran’s parched japanese areas, an accusation denied by the Taliban.

“At present, in Nimroz province, Iranian border forces fired towards Afghanistan, which was met with a counter-reaction,” spokesman for the Taliban-run inside ministry, Abdul Nafi Takor, mentioned in a press release.

“The state of affairs is underneath management now. The Islamic Emirate doesn’t wish to struggle with its neighbours,” the spokesman mentioned, with out figuring out the victims.

He mentioned one individual had been killed on all sides and several other injured on Saturday, although Iran’s official IRNA information company later mentioned two Iranian border guards had been killed and two Iranian civilians injured.

Following the conflict, Iranian authorities closed the Milak – Zaranj border publish, a serious business crossing – and never the positioning of the conflict – till additional discover, IRNA mentioned.

Iran’s deputy police chief, Qasem Rezaei, mentioned earlier: “With out observing worldwide legal guidelines and good neighbourliness, Taliban forces began capturing on the Sasoli checkpoint … drawing a decisive response,” IRNA reported.

Iran’s border guards mentioned in a press release they’d “used their superior heavy fireplace to inflict casualties and severe harm”, IRNA reported, with out giving particulars.

Enayatullah Khowarazmi, Taliban defence ministry spokesman, mentioned: “Sadly, right this moment as soon as once more within the border areas of Kong district of Nimroz province, there was a capturing by Iranian troopers, (and) a battle … broke out.”

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers dialogue and negotiation to be an affordable method for any downside. Making excuses for struggle and damaging actions is just not within the curiosity of any of the events,” Khowarazmi mentioned.

Earlier in Might, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned the Taliban over disregarding Iran’s water rights underneath the 1973 treaty. The Taliban rejected Raisi’s perceived risk, with a former Taliban official mocking Raisi in a video that went viral.

Australian Related Press