RASC News Agency: Hossein Mousavi, head of the Engineering Department of Iran’s Armed Forces, has announced that Iran intends to seal its entire 1,000-kilometer border with Afghanistan to prevent the infiltration of terrorists and curb drug trafficking. He further stated that substantial progress has already been made in this effort. However, it is worth noting that the actual length of the Iran-Afghanistan border is approximately 900 kilometers. The Iranian government has been intensifying its efforts to fortify the border with Afghanistan. Officials confirm that dozens of kilometers of border walls have already been constructed, though disputes remain between Iran and the Taliban over specific sections of the project.
Highlighting the strategic significance of this initiative, Mousavi stated:
“Once the decision was made to seal the border, engineering teams were mobilized, and substantial progress has been achieved.” He added that more than 30 kilometers of border walls have been built and installed, with an additional 50 kilometers ready for deployment. Mousavi also underscored the unprecedented nature of this project, declaring:
“For the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are fully sealing our borders an initiative with no historical precedent.” He elaborated that the plan extends beyond Afghanistan, covering 1,000 kilometers of Iran’s border from Afghanistan to Pakistan. This ambitious project, expected to be completed over eight years, is aimed at combating smuggling networks and neutralizing terrorist threats.
Despite Iran’s relatively close ties with the Taliban, the Islamic Republic remains deeply concerned about the infiltration of terrorist groups and drug traffickers from Afghanistan territory. Additionally, the growing influx of Afghanistani refugees has become a pressing challenge for Iran. According to Iranian officials, at least six million Afghanistani refugees currently reside in the country, two million of whom lack legal documentation. Over the past year alone, more than one million Afghanistani refugees have been deported from Iran. However, authorities acknowledge that 50% of those expelled have since re-entered the country, highlighting the ongoing complexity of the situation.
