TEHRAN:
The main border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan was closed onSaturday following skirmishes between Iranian border guards and the Talibanforces.
According to official sources, Taliban authorities in the Islam Qaladistrict of western Afghanistan’s Herat province were paving a road in theborder zone with Iran, which was obstructed by Iranian border guards.
Iranian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qommiissued a statement, confirming that local authorities in Herat hadattempted to construct a road in the Islam Qala-Dogharoun border area”without prior coordination” with the Iranian side.
He said the road breached the border between the two countries, and themove was prevented by Iranian border guards.
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Mawlawi Homayoun Hemmat, the deputy commissioner of Islam Qala district,told the private Afghan broadcaster *TOLO News* that a vehicle belonging toIranian forces had crossed over to the Afghan side and was seized by localofficials.
Both sides have put their border forces on high alert, fearing anescalation of tensions. -Anadolu Agency
