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Afghanistan launches investigation into Iranian border massacre claims
The Islamic Emirate confirmed late Wednesday it has initiated an investigation into allegations that over 200 Afghan migrants were shot dead on the Iran-Afghanistan border by Iranian military forces on Sunday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, said in a post on X that “various governmental bodies and diplomatic missions of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have initiated comprehensive investigations into the matter.
“As the incident is reported to have occurred beyond Afghanistan’s borders, the available information remains unverified. A conclusive decision will be made following a thorough clarification of the facts,” he said.
On Tuesday, an Iranian-based human rights organization, Haalvsh, claimed Iranian forces had gunned down at least 260 Afghan migrants near the Kalgan Saravan region in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province on Sunday evening.
According to Haalvsh, survivors of the shooting described horror scenes when Iranian military forces targeted the group.
Haalvsh reported that two survivors said there had been a group of about 300 migrants trying to cross the border when they were shot at and targeted with RPGs.
Iran’s special envoy and ambassador to Kabul, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, has however rejected the claims and said the report is “untrue”.
He said late Wednesday: “The results of direct follow-ups from reliable sources show that the news about the deaths of dozens of illegal citizens at the border of Saravan is not true.”
He stated that preventing the entry of illegal immigrants is the responsibility of Iran’s border forces. Iran is committed to returning Afghan refugees and in this matter, it acts according to international treaties, he added.
The UN’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennett also responded to the claims and said: “I’m seriously concerned about reports of injuries & deaths of Afghans in Iran’s Saravan border area and I call for authorities to investigate transparently.
“Clarity is urgently needed. These reports don’t stand in isolation. More dignity & safety is needed for Afghans worldwide,” he said.
Haalvsh said dozens were also wounded.
“On Sunday evening, dozens of Afghan citizens were targeted by direct fire and RPGs by the Islamic Republic’s military forces who were ambushed in advance at the Kalgan-Saravan border. As a result, dozens of these migrants were killed and dozens more injured,” the organization stated.
Ariana Afghan Airlines has ranked seventh among 45 airlines in Central Asia in Skytrax’s 2026 rankings.
Company officials say Ariana Afghan ranked eighth on the list in 2025, but moved up one place this year following improvements in service quality and the expansion of its operations.
According to the officials, in 2026 the airline met criteria including service quality, flight safety, professional cabin crew, and experience in the aviation sector, placing it among the top 10 airlines in Central Asia.
Skytrax is an international organization that evaluates and ranks the quality of services in the aviation industry and airlines, assessing and ranking carriers annually based on specific criteria.
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Silk Road highway in Wakhan corridor now reaches the China border
The road is expected to be officially opened for use in the near future, potentially improving connectivity through the remote Wakhan Corridor.
The construction of the Silk Road Highway in Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor has been fully completed after five years of work, officials in Badakhshan province said.
Amanullah Chehra, head of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in Badakhshan, said the 121.13-kilometre road begins in the Barghil area and stretches to Bzai Gonbad near the Chinese border.
According to officials, the road is between 7 and 10 metres wide and includes three major bridges, each measuring approximately 20 to 22 metres in length. Numerous smaller drainage structures have also been built along the route to facilitate the flow of water.
The road is expected to be officially opened for use in the near future, potentially improving connectivity through the remote Wakhan Corridor.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, met on Wednesday with Bruno Lemarquis, UNAMA’s Deputy Head for Humanitarian Affairs, to discuss the situation of Afghan returnees and humanitarian assistance.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said Lemarquis briefed the minister on assessments conducted by UN agencies during visits to several provinces to identify the needs of returnee families.
Lemarquis said joint cooperation between UN agencies and the Islamic Emirate is needed to support and resettle returnees. He added that UN agencies are currently assisting thousands of families and called for the expansion of humanitarian assistance.
He also said the international community should pay greater attention to the needs of Afghans, adding that UNAMA is ready to cooperate in addressing challenges facing returnees.
Abdul Kabir welcomed UNAMA’s support and thanked the United Nations for its assistance to Afghans. He said various government institutions have been tasked with addressing returnees’ needs.
The minister also called on aid organizations to continue supporting returnee families, saying a program to resettle thousands of internally displaced families is also underway.
Kabir further said the necessary facilities have been provided for UN agencies to operate and that the Islamic Emirate welcomes UNAMA’s humanitarian cooperation.
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