The Taliban militants captured a key crossing along Afghanistan’s border with Iran on Thursday, Afghan security officials said, as the armed group made major territorial gains over the last few weeks in the war-torn country, including several areas bordering Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Pakistan.
Senior security officials told Reuters that the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran, located in Herat province, was seized by the Taliban after Afghan security and customs officials escaped into Iran seeking refuge. The news agency reported that the Taliban captured five districts in Herat without a fight. However, Tariq Arian, a spokesperson for the Afghan interior ministry, denied the reports and claimed that Islam Qala was still under government control.
Also Read: The US Is Exiting Afghanistan. What Happens Next?
Moreover, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran was prepared for all scenarios and thanked its border guards for ensuring that there was “no insecurity” along the border. Khatibzadeh mentioned that “Iran will take the necessary measures […] based on its border agreements with Afghanistan.” He added that several Afghan staff members entered Iran “after clashes that erupted at Islam-Qala and Abu Nasr Farahi customs facilities.”
In this regard, General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces, said that “complete security and peace” prevailed along the border. He added that Iranian armed forces were prepared to respond “decisively” to any move intended to make Iran insecure. Concerning the Afghan security and customs officials who crossed into Iran, General Mehdi Hajian, the spokesperson of the Iranian police, announced that they were returned to Afghanistan by flight.
Also Read: Iran Hosts Afghan Government, Taliban Delegations As Fighting Surges
Iran has been seeking to play a more significant role in Afghanistan and is likely to step up efforts following the complete withdrawal of American troops from the region. In April, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistani Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for both countries to guide the Afghan peace process through increased security cooperation and ensure the stability of Afghanistan. In addition, Iranian FM Zarif met his Afghan and Turkish counterparts—Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu—in Turkey last month to discuss ways to ensure “lasting peace” in Afghanistan.
Also Read: Security Situation in Afghanistan Worsens as Taliban Takes Control Over Several Districts
The decision of the United States (US) administration, led by President Joe Biden, to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks has encouraged the Taliban to conduct multiple military offensives against the Afghan government. The militant group has already claimed control of 85% of Afghanistan. In June, a United Nations official warned that the militants are “positioning themselves to try and take provincial capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.” Such a situation could spell disaster for the fledgling Afghan democracy and completely derail the gains made over the years in human rights.