At least six Afghan migrants were killed, five injured, and forty detained after Iranian border guards opened fire on a group attempting to cross into Sistan-Baluchestan, human rights monitoring group Haal-Wash reported on Sunday. According to the group, the incident occurred when nearly 120 Afghans, including women and children, tried to cross the border. Witnesses alleged that Iranian guards fired heavy weapons without issuing any warning, sparking chaos and panic. The victims, many of whom were unarmed civilians fleeing economic hardship, were reportedly targeted indiscriminately.
Among those injured and transferred to Saravan Hospital were identified as Ehsanullah Tajik, Nasrullah Barekzahi, Hezbollah Barekzahi, Vai Barekzahi, and Bashir Ahmad Barekzahi. Haal-Wash noted that three of them remain in critical condition. Disturbingly, the rights group added, the bodies of those killed were left behind at the site of the incident, further compounding the suffering of families.
Neither Iranian officials nor Taliban authorities in Kabul have issued any formal statement. The silence, rights groups said, reflects a pattern of neglect and impunity, as similar episodes in the past have often gone unacknowledged.
In a strikingly similar incident last year, rights activists reported that Iranian border guards fired on a group of more than 300 Afghan migrants in the Saravan region, resulting in numerous casualties. While the attack drew international concern at the time, it led to little accountability and no lasting reforms.
The latest killings highlight the precarious situation of Afghan migrants who continue to face systemic abuse, detention, and violence while seeking safety or livelihood opportunities across the Iranian border. Human rights groups argue that these actions, carried out against unarmed civilians, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Haal-Wash called for an urgent and transparent investigation into the incident and demanded that both Tehran and Kabul take responsibility for safeguarding the rights of vulnerable migrants. Analysts warn that without accountability and stronger protections, such tragedies are likely to recur, exacerbating the humanitarian plight of Afghans already caught between conflict, poverty, and displacement.
