On Wednesday, Iran’s border guards and the Taliban forces engaged in fierce fighting on the northeastern Iranian border, inducing casualties on both sides.
According to the reports, the clashes erupted over the Taliban’s storming of the Dost Mohammad and Bala Siah Cheshman border posts of Iran in the Shagalak area that links to Nimroz province.
A wall construction by Iran along the border with Afghanistan to restrain illegal crossings and drug trafficking incites clashes.
Upon allegations that the Taliban targeted Iranian farmers who came close to the wall that the group asserts is the zero-point, Iranian border guards opened fire to the Taliban. This caused fierce fighting between the Iranian and Taliban forces that reportedly lasted more than five hours.
Some videos circulating in social media showed that the Taliban had set fire on border checkpoints, causing chaos at the border point.
Iranian officials have not yet made statements regarding the incident or casualty reports. However, Iran’s state-run news agencies made news denying allegations about the seizure of border posts by the Taliban and explained the clashes as “border misunderstandings.”
It was reported that the clashes had ceased upon expectations regarding both sides’ officials to meet.
In recent years, there have been “relatively” favorable relations between the Taliban and Iran. Since the Taliban established an interim government in Afghanistan, Iranian officials have had regular meetings with the group. However, Tehran has not yet recognized the Taliban-led government.
