Intense border clashes between Iran, Taliban leave several dead
Two Iranian border guards and a Taliban militant were killed on 27 May during intense border clashes between Iran and Afghanistan, representing the latest escalation in a long-standing water dispute between the two countries.
Each side claimed that the other initiated the clashes.
“Today, in Nimroz province, Iranian border forces fired toward Afghanistan, which was met with a counter-reaction. The situation is under control now. The Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] (IEA) does not want to fight with its neighbors,” an interior ministry spokesman in the Taliban-led Afghan government, Abdul Nafi Takor, said.
According to Iranian media outlet, IRNA, Tehran’s border troops used heavy gunfire to inflict casualties and damages on the Afghan forces.
“Without observing international laws and good neighborliness, Taliban forces started shooting at the Sasoli checkpoint … drawing a decisive response,” Iranian deputy police chief, Qasem Rezaei, was quoted as saying.
Iranian authorities shut down the major Milak – Zaranj commercial crossing until further notice, IRNA added.
Last week, Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, urging the IEA against violating the 1973 Helmand River treaty.
“We will not allow the rights of our people to be violated,” he said, and warned that the Taliban government should take his words seriously.
The Taliban rejected the president’s warning, perceiving it as an unwarranted threat.
On 26 May, a well known Taliban figure, General Mubin Khan, was seen in a video on social media mocking Raisi.
In the video, he is seen filling a jug of water and saying: “I’m collecting some water for him [Iran’s president] from Logar province because he had sent us serious warnings. Please don’t warn us because we will be terrified.”
The Helmand River flows between both countries, and Iran has for years accused Afghan authorities of restricting the flow of its water to Iran and causing droughts or dry spells.
Tensions over the water issue had reportedly been rising, despite previous negotiations and commitments from both sides.
Iran has had a strained relationship with the Taliban historically. In 1998, the Taliban captured the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif, committing atrocities against the Hazara minority group.
At least ten Iranian diplomats were killed in the violence following a attack on Iran’s embassy.
Iran has continued to call for an end to the US economic blockade that has seen Afghanistan lose access to its foreign reserves and fall deep into a humanitarian catastrophe.
However, it has yet to recognize the Taliban government formally due to its repressive measures against females and its lack of inclusivity in government.
https://thecradle.co/article-view/25326/intense-border-clashes-between-iran-taliban-leave-three-dead
Bentrokan perbatasan yang intens antara Iran, Taliban menewaskan beberapa orang
Dua penjaga perbatasan Iran dan seorang militan Taliban tewas pada 27 Mei selama bentrokan perbatasan yang intens antara Iran dan Afghanistan, mewakili eskalasi terbaru dalam perselisihan air yang sudah berlangsung lama antara kedua negara.
Masing-masing pihak mengklaim bahwa yang lain memulai bentrokan.
"Hari ini, di provinsi Nimroz, pasukan perbatasan Iran menembak ke Afghanistan, yang disambut dengan reaksi balasan. Situasinya terkendali sekarang. Imarah Islam [Afghanistan] (IEA) tidak ingin bertarung dengan tetangganya," kata juru bicara kementerian dalam negeri di pemerintah Afghanistan yang dipimpin Taliban, Abdul Nafi Takor.
Menurut outlet media Iran, IRNA, pasukan perbatasan Teheran menggunakan tembakan berat untuk menimbulkan korban dan kerusakan pada pasukan Afghanistan.
"Tanpa mematuhi hukum internasional dan bertetangga yang baik, pasukan Taliban mulai menembak di pos pemeriksaan Sasoli ... menarik tanggapan yang menentukan," kata wakil kepala polisi Iran, Qasem Rezaei, seperti dikutip.
Otoritas Iran menutup penyeberangan komersial utama Milak – Zaranj sampai pemberitahuan lebih lanjut, IRNA menambahkan.
Pekan lalu, presiden Iran Ebrahim Raisi mengeluarkan peringatan keras ke Afghanistan, mendesak IEA agar tidak melanggar perjanjian Sungai Helmand 1973.
"Kami tidak akan membiarkan hak-hak rakyat kami dilanggar," katanya, dan memperingatkan bahwa pemerintah Taliban harus menanggapi kata-katanya dengan serius.
Taliban menolak peringatan presiden, menganggapnya sebagai ancaman yang tidak beralasan.
Pada 26 Mei, seorang tokoh Taliban terkenal, Jenderal Mubin Khan, terlihat dalam sebuah video di media sosial yang mengejek Raisi.
Dalam video tersebut, dia terlihat mengisi kendi berisi air dan berkata: "Saya mengumpulkan air untuknya [presiden Iran] dari provinsi Logar karena dia telah mengirimi kami peringatan serius. Tolong jangan memperingatkan kami karena kami akan ketakutan.”
Sungai Helmand mengalir antara kedua negara, dan Iran selama bertahun-tahun menuduh otoritas Afghanistan membatasi aliran airnya ke Iran dan menyebabkan kekeringan atau musim kemarau.
Ketegangan atas masalah air dilaporkan telah meningkat, terlepas dari negosiasi dan komitmen sebelumnya dari kedua belah pihak.
Iran memiliki hubungan yang tegang dengan Taliban secara historis. Pada tahun 1998, Taliban merebut kota Afghanistan Mazar-e-Sharif, melakukan kekejaman terhadap kelompok minoritas Hazara.
Setidaknya sepuluh diplomat Iran tewas dalam kekerasan setelah serangan terhadap kedutaan Iran.
Iran terus menyerukan diakhirinya blokade ekonomi AS yang telah membuat Afghanistan kehilangan akses ke cadangan devisa dan jatuh jauh ke dalam bencana kemanusiaan.
Namun, ia belum mengakui pemerintah Taliban secara resmi karena tindakan represifnya terhadap perempuan dan kurangnya inklusivitas dalam pemerintahan.
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