Iran’s Foreign Ministry has sought clarification from the Taliban regarding the killing of one of its border guards near the Afghan border and asked the group to punish the perpetrators.
Local sources told Afghanistan International that Mohammad Sayad, the Iranian border guard, had been killed by Taliban fighters on Tuesday evening.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry, in a series of tweets on Wednesday, confirmed that Sayad was killed in Milak area of Iran near the border with Afghanistan. The office added that authorities were investigating the incident and “as soon as the matter is clarified” they will provide more information.
Nasser Kanaani, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said that they expect the Taliban to take firm action to clarify the magnitude of the situation, punish the perpetrators and take serious measures to prevent such incidents going forward.
Sources from Nimroz province of Afghanistan told AITV that a Taliban fighter in “plain clothes” opened fire at the Iranian border guard. According to sources, tensions between the Taliban and Iranian border guards started after a child got injured in the Province.
The incident has garnered many reactions on social media in Iran. Local twitter user Amir Chahaki wrote, “Why does Iran’s missile power, which scares US and Israel, doesn’t scare the Afghan Taliban?”
Nonetheless, Habibullah Ilham, the Taliban’s head of information and culture directorate in Nimroz province, denied the killing of Iranian border forces by Taliban members. In an audio file that he sent to the media, Ilham has said that Iranian forces opened fire towards Afghanistan soil during which a child got injured. He added that the child is currently hospitalized.
Meanwhile, Maisam Barazanda, Hermand district chief, also said that the case is under investigation and denied the allegations of the arrest of two other border guards by the Taliban.
