Iranian Official Announces Crackdown on Illegal Afghan Immigrants In Shahriar County

The assailants stole his phone and wallet.

The motive behind this incident remains unclear, and the Taliban has not yet commented in this regard.

On Tuesday, sources reported to Afghanistan International that Hosseini had been transported to the hospital, and his condition is improving.

In February 2023, a fire broke out at the Paykan radio and television network in Mazar-e-Sharif, causing their broadcasts to be halted.

Also, Taliban previously had entered the building of this media outlet, seized the owner's property, and confiscated one of the network's vehicles.

According to these sources, an officer in plainclothes in the village of Absard, Damavand County, restrained Seyed Mehdi by holding his arms and legs while another officer placed his knee on the boy’s neck.

Our sources provided a video clip of the arrest and assault on this teenager, who hails from Daikundi province in Afghanistan. The footage shows that Seyed Mehdi is now hospitalised.

A source told Afghanistan International that the incident began when security forces launched a series of attacks on migrants in Absard village. Fearing for his safety, Seyed Mehdi, who has hearing impairments, attempted to flee but was pursued and captured by the security forces.

According to this source, the officers apprehended and severely tortured the teenager in the presence of several women who were on their way to work.

In the video sent to us, two officers in plain clothes and one uniformed officer are seen pinning the boy to the ground next to a police vehicle.

Initially, two officers are seen applying their full weight on the boy's body. One of them, then, places his knee on Seyed Mehdi’s neck. As the teenager cries out in pain, several nearby women scream and try to intervene, but the security officers push them away.

The video shows that after some time, Seyed Mehdi's cries cease, and the officers then drag him into the police vehicle.

One source explained in a note to Afghanistan International that the officers took Seyed Mehdi to a detention camp and later released him with a broken neck.

Our sources confirmed that the teenager is currently hospitalised, but his exact condition remains unknown.

In recent weeks, there has been an increase in pressure from Iranian security forces and some citizens on Afghan migrants, with numerous reports of attacks against them.

Several Iranian social media users have initiated a campaign, including hate speech against migrants, under the banner "Expelling Afghans, a National Demand," calling for the deportation of Afghan migrants.

Shoja outlined that these towers will be equipped with radar systems and advanced cameras, providing extensive surveillance capabilities.

The initial phase of this project will focus on the Khorasan Razavi border, where the 18 telecommunications towers will be constructed.

He stated that the border obstruction plan encompasses the construction of a four-metre-high wall topped with one and a half metres of barbed wire, motion sensors, and smart technology integration.

Shoja also emphasised on the progress of the border obstruction initiative, mentioning that 88 diplomatic meetings have been conducted since the start of this year [solar calendar].

The border obstruction plan, which began this Spring, is slated for completion within three years.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran has allocated USD 3 billion for the implementation of this plan.

The primary goal for obstructing the Iran-Afghanistan border is to curb illegal crossings, arms smuggling, and drug trafficking.

Additionally, Pakistan's imports from Afghanistan decreased by 21.95 percent, dropping from $15 million to over $11 million.

The Pakistani newspaper, The Nation, reported on Tuesday, that according to the monthly statistics of the State Bank of Pakistan, the total exports of the country to Afghanistan in June exceeded $46 million. In contrast, this figure was $43.657 million last year.

Pakistan's exports in June of this year increased by 5.53 percent compared to the same period last year.

This newspaper wrote that Pakistan's exports to other countries overall increased by 11.53 percent in one year, reaching more than $31 billion.

The organisation stated that half of these displaced individuals are children.

According to the organisation, the six-month displacement figure in Afghanistan this year exceeds the total number for last year.

On Tuesday, August 6, Save the Children wrote in its latest report that these individuals were forced to leave their homes due to drought, high temperatures, floods, landslides, avalanches, and storms in Afghanistan.

This child protection organisation mentioned that last year, Afghanistan had the highest number of displaced children in the world.

Save the Children, quoting the United Nations, reported that in 2022, one out of every seven children in Afghanistan faced long-term displacement. The organisation said that this is the highest rate in South Asia and second globally.

Save the Children stated that Afghanistan is among the countries least capable of adapting to and coping with climate crises and is the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change globally.

Arshad Malik, Save The Children Country Director in Afghanistan, said, “The climate crisis is fuelling the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It is forcing people from their homes, destroying water sources, and preventing children from going to school."

He added that compared to people over 60 years old, newborns in Afghanistan are 5.3 times more likely to face drought during their lifetimes, and this crisis alters the lives of children.

The organisation, quoting the United Nations, reported that more than one in three people in Afghanistan faces critical hunger due to climate-induced crises and high food prices.

According to the United Nations, 25 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan are experiencing drought conditions, affecting more than half of the country's population.

Save the Children added that research repeatedly shows that girls and women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters compared to men.

The organisation noted that since the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan has seen a significant reduction in aid over the past three years, and thus humanitarian organisations alone cannot be expected to bridge this gap.

Save the Children has called for increased international assistance to meet current needs and for long-term planning to address the climate crisis.