UN Calls for Investigation into Shooting of Afghan Refugees at Saravan Border

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called for an investigation following conflicting reports of casualties among Afghan refugees near the Saravan border in Iran. On Thursday, October 18, the mission emphasized the rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers under international law, stating on social media platform X: "UNAMA calls for a full and transparent investigation into this alleged incident." The human rights organization "Halosh" reported that over 200 Afghan nationals were killed due to gunfire from Iranian military forces on the evening of Sunday, October 15, with only 60 to 70 individuals surviving among those attempting to enter Iran. Radio Free Europe was unable to independently verify these reports, which have only been commented on by some eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, the spokesperson's office of the Taliban government announced on Thursday via X that a "high-level delegation" led by Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, the Deputy Security Minister of the Taliban, will investigate the matter. This office stated that the delegation began its work on Wednesday to "clarify the issue as soon as possible" and will report its findings to the Prime Minister of the government, Mohammad Hassan Akhund. Moein Arjmand, a director of the Baloch Activists Campaign based in Britain, told Radio Free Europe on Wednesday, October 25, that the incident occurred in the Kolgan region of Iran's Balochistan and resulted in the death of one Afghan citizen. According to him, the casualties were not solely due to gunfire, as Afghan citizens were also caught in "explosive traps" and "minefields," with Iranian border forces firing at them after a mine explosion. He stated that sources from this campaign reported "one dead and dozens injured" due to these events. Radio Azadi, the Afghan section of Radio Free Europe, reported on Wednesday, citing a source from the Taliban embassy in Tehran, that Iranian forces shot at Afghan migrants, but Iranian officials have denied this action. The commander of the border guard in Sistan and Baluchestan province also strongly denied the shooting of Afghan nationals by Iranian officers. In recent months, officials from the thirteenth government and Masoud Pezeshkian's government have emphasized the return of "illegal Afghan nationals" to their country. Meanwhile, the deputy commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces stated on October 24 that the mission to seal the border with Afghanistan has been assigned to this force, announcing that "more than ten kilometers of wall have been constructed at the border, and another 50 kilometers are ready for wall construction."