 "Afghan migrants allegedly gunned down on Iran border; UN demands investigation")
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has urged an investigation into reports that a large group of Afghan migrants was shot and killed along the Afghanistan-Iran border.
According to Afghan media, including Tolo News, more than 200 Afghan migrants who entered Iran illegally were allegedly attacked within Iranian territory, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. Tolo cited witnesses and an Iranian human rights organization, which claimed Iranian border guards were responsible for the attack. Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, dismissed the reports on X, formerly Twitter, denying any “death of dozens of illegal nationals.”
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has not verified the incident but said it is actively investigating. In a statement, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed “deep concern over disturbing reports of an incident on Oct. 14-15 in Iran’s Sistan province, Sarbaz district, near the Kala Gan border area.” UNAMA did not specify who might have carried out the alleged attack but called for a “thorough and transparent” investigation, stressing international laws protecting migrants and refugees.
Afghan authorities have yet to confirm the incident, as it occurred “beyond Afghanistan’s borders,” said government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat. He stated that a high-ranking delegation, with officials from the foreign, interior, and defense ministries, has launched a probe and will report once verified details are available.
Millions of Afghans fled their homeland after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power. Both Iran and Pakistan host significant Afghan migrant populations but have recently tightened restrictions on refugees within their territories.
With inputs from Reuters
 "'Sovereignty violated, security undermined': China fumes after USS Higgins destroyer 'intrudes' into South China Sea")
 "Will Pakistan go to war with India over the Indus Waters? Or are the threats hollow?")
 "How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment")
 "Iran sends its top nuclear scientists into hiding. Here’s why")
 "'Sovereignty violated, security undermined': China fumes after USS Higgins destroyer 'intrudes' into South China Sea")
 "Will Pakistan go to war with India over the Indus Waters? Or are the threats hollow?")
 "How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment")
 "Iran sends its top nuclear scientists into hiding. Here’s why")
