Amid escalating border tensions and the subsequent closure of the Islam Qala border crossing, the Taliban have asserted that they disarmed an Iranian border guard.
Sources within the Taliban operating in Herat disclosed to Hasht-e Subh on Saturday, March 9th, that a group of individuals identified as “Iranian media personnel” crossed into Afghanistan, triggering a response from Taliban fighters.
According to these sources, following the incursion, an Iranian border guard who had entered Afghanistan for negotiations concerning the release of a citizen from Iran was disarmed by Taliban forces.
In response to the unfolding situation, the Islam Qala border crossing has been shut down, exacerbating the already heightened tensions in the region.
The closure of the Islam Qala border crossing to traffic has been corroborated by the Taliban in Herat.
Notably, clashes between the Taliban and Iranian border guards at the Islam Qala border, situated in the Herat and Nimroz provinces, are not unprecedented occurrences.
This latest incident adds to the ongoing strain in relations between the two factions, underscoring the volatile nature of the situation along the border.