RASC News Agency: On Tuesday, October 15th, sources confirmed that two days prior, Iranian border guards opened fire on a group of around 300 Afghanistani refugees attempting to cross illegally from Pakistan into Iran through the Kalgan border region. Reports indicate that a significant number of refugees were either killed or severely wounded in the incident.
Many of the refugees in the group were previously deported from Iran and were trying to re-enter the country. Kalgan, located between Pakistan and Iran, is a notorious crossing point for hundreds of Afghanistani refugees who, fleeing harsh conditions, make the perilous journey through Nimroz province to enter Iran illegally.
Iranian, Pakistani, and Taliban authorities have so far remained silent on the incident. However, the shooting of Afghanistani refugees by Iranian border guards is not an isolated occurrence and happens from time to time. “Halvash News Agency”, citing its sources, reported that “approximately 300 refugees were part of the group, of which only around 60 to 70 survived, while the rest were either killed or seriously injured.”
The sources further indicate that Iranian military forces employed both light and heavy weapons during the attack. Since the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, more than ten million Afghanistani citizens have fled the country, escaping extreme poverty, political and ethnic repression, and lack of employment opportunities, seeking safety and a better life in neighboring countries.
