KABUL (Khaama Press): Human rights group Haal-Wash said Iranian border guards opened fire on Afghan migrants in Sistan-Baluchestan, killing six, injuring five, and detaining forty, sparking concerns over rights abuses.
According to the report, the guards fired on a group of nearly 120 Afghan migrants, which included women and children, without issuing any prior warning. Witnesses alleged that heavy firearms were used, and the shooting began suddenly as the migrants attempted to cross the border.
Among the wounded who were transferred to Saravan Hospital are Ehsanullah Tajik, Nasrullah Barekzahi, Hezbollah Barekzahi, Vai Barekzahi, and Bashir Ahmad Barekzahi. Three of them remain in critical condition. Haal-Wash further stated that the bodies of those killed were left behind at the site of the incident.
Neither Iranian officials nor the Taliban authorities in Kabul have issued any statement regarding the attack. The silence has drawn criticism, as similar incidents in the past have also gone unacknowledged by both governments.
Last year, rights groups reported another large-scale shooting, in which Iranian forces opened fire on a group of more than 300 Afghan migrants in the Saravan border region, leaving many dead or injured. That episode prompted international concern but little accountability.
The latest killings highlight the vulnerability of Afghan migrants, who continue to face abuse, detention, and violence while seeking refuge across the Iranian border. Such actions, carried out against unarmed civilians, raise serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian norms.
It is now urgent that a transparent and impartial investigation be conducted. Without accountability and stronger protections for migrants, these cross-border tragedies are likely to recur, deepening the suffering of Afghan refugees.
