Iranian border guards have killed eleven Afghan nationals in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran, according to local sources.
According to Iran International, Iranian border forces on Friday handed over the dead bodies of eleven Afghan citizens to the Taliban officials at the Nimroz border crossing.
Four days ago, eleven Afghan citizens were shot dead by Iranian security forces in Sistan and Baluchistan province who were trying to enter Iran illegally.
The dead Afghan nationals are below the age of twenty according to sources, including two who are believed to be 18 years old. Iranian officials and Taliban authorities have not yet commented regarding the killings.
Taliban authorities in Nimroz province said that over the past eleven months, more than 470 dead bodies of Afghan refugees have been transferred to the country through this province. Taliban authorities state that these individuals have died in incidents including traffic incidents.
Last week a video went viral, in which some Afghan refugees were saying that Iranian forces fired on their vehicle in Baluchistan, which resulted in the injury of one of them.
Following the return of the Taliban to power, and the growth of poverty and unemployment, a considerable number of Afghan citizens fearing death threats and persecution by the Taliban have migrated to the neighboring countries including Iran and Pakistan.
Since a large majority of these migrants have entered neighboring countries through illegal channels, now face serious challenges. Although Iran and Pakistan have accommodated millions of Afghans for decades, now have taken serious measures to deal with undocumented Afghan nationals.
Iran, in particular forcefully deports Afghan refugees who fail to provide legal stay permits or visas on a weekly basis. Additionally, Iran and Pakistan are accused of violating fundamental rights by mistreating Afghan refugees on several occasions.
