Taliban and Iranian troops exchange heavy gunfire across border in dramatic ... trends now
The Taliban and Iran have exchanged gunfire across the Islamic Republic's border with Afghanistan, killing and wounding troops.
The clashes represent a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two countries amid a dispute over water rights in the region, with both sides exchanging blame for the eruption of cross-border violence.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted the country's deputy police chief, Gen. Qassem Rezaei, accusing the Taliban of opening fire first Saturday morning on the border of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province and the Afghan province of Nimroz.
IRNA said Iran inflicted 'heavy casualties and serious damage.'
From the Taliban's view, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor accused Iran of shooting first.
The Taliban and Iran have exchanged gunfire across the Islamic Republic's border with Afghanistan, killing and wounding troops. Pictured: Video footage purportedly showing an exchange of gunfire between Taliban and Iranian forces
Takor said the firefight killed two people, one from each country, and wounded others. He described the situation as now being under control.
IRNA, quoting Iranian police, said two border guards had been killed. However, that number may be higher. The semiofficial, English-language newspaper Tehran Times said the fighting killed three Iranian border guards.
IRNA said the Milak border crossing with Afghanistan, a major trade route, was closed until further notice over the gunfight.
'The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers dialogue to be a reasonable way for any problem,' Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khawarazmi said in a statement. 'Making excuses for war and negative actions is not in the interest of any of the parties.'
The advocacy group HalVash, which reports on issues affecting the Baluch people in the predominately Sunni province of Sistan and Baluchestan, quoted residents in the area saying the fighting took place near the Kang district of Nimroz.
It said some people in the area had fled the violence.
The Taliban and Iran have exchanged gunfire across the Islamic Republic's border with Afghanistan, killing and wounding troops. Pictured: An Iranian soldier is seen looking out over a mountainous region in the country (file photo)
Videos posted online, purportedly from the area, included the crackle of machine gun fire in the distance. HalVash later posted an image of
