MONITORING (SW) – On the heels of simering rift between Tehran and Kabul, an evident surge of Iranian security forces has been reported near the border with Afghanistan.
Following the tensions between the Iranian border guards and the forces of the Islamic Emirate at the Islamic Qala crossing, the Iranian media broadcast videotapes of additional security measures and dispatching of more troops to the border between Iran and Afghanistan.
These tapes show that a number of Iranian tanks and other armored vehicles are moving towards the Dugharun border on the with Afghanistan, and that the country’s army forces are being stationed there.
So far, Iranian and Afghan officials have not officially commented.
Meanwhile, Saeed Khatibzada, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told the media yesterday that the country’s border guards had treated the forces of the Islamic Emirate with restraint, but hoped that it would not be misunderstood and that such incidents would be a cause for concern.
The Islam Qala crossing in Herat province was temporarily closed on Saturday, May 3, due to tensions between the Iranian border guards and the Islamic Emirate forces.
Local sources said the tensions occurred when Islamic Emirate forces wanted to build a road near the border between the two countries.
According to sources, Iranian border guards entered the area to prevent the construction of this road and one of their vehicles entered Afghanistan, which was then stopped by the forces of the Islamic Emirate.
Iranian media also confirmed the incident and reported that the forces of the Islamic Emirate had confiscated the Iranian military vehicle and that the Iranian forces were trying to retrieve their vehicle.
ENDS
