The main crossing point between Afghanistan and Iran in the western province of Herat closed on Saturday, April 23, 2022, after skirmishes between border guards of the two countries.
The Taliban in the Islam Qala district of Herat province purportedly wanted to pave a road that was obstructed by the Iranian forces in the border zone.
Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi in a press release confirms the issue adding that the Taliban wanted to construct a road at the border zone with prior coordination with Iran.
He added the road planned by the Taliban breached the border.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Homayoun Hemat, the deputy commissioner of Islam Qala district said a vehicle belonging to Iranian forces had crossed over to the Afghan side and was seized by local officials.
At the moment, both sides have put their forces on high alert in case of skirmishes escalation.
The central government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not commented on the issue yet Qomi suggested the issue to be resolved through the joint border commission.
This is the second time the Taliban and Iranian forces engage in skirmishes on the border after the IEA’s takeover in last August.
