TEHRAN -- A border outpost in southeastern Iran has come under heavy attack from Taliban forces in total disregard for international law, prompting a strong response from Iranian border guards, the deputy police chief said on Saturday.
Brigadier General Qasem Rezaei, deputy commander of the national police, expressed grave concern over the unprovoked attack on the Sassoli outpost, located in the Zabol border regiment near the Afghan frontier.
Taliban forces initiated the assault in contravention of “international law and principles of good neighborliness”, and were met with “a decisive and courageous counteraction from the border guards” of the Islamic Republic, the commander said.
Iranian border guards issued necessary warnings after the initial gunfire from the Taliban, but “unfortunately the gunfire resumed hours ago and clashes are ongoing,” he added.
Following the border skirmishes, Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan, chief commander of the national police, issued a directive to the border guards, asking them to “defend the borders bravely and decisively and not allow any trespassing or encroachment.”
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Kabul over the latter’s blocking of Iran’s access to its share of water from Helmand River in violation of a 1973 treaty.
Iran should receive an annual share of 820 million cubic meters from Hirmand under the accord, which Afghanistan has grossly violated in letter and spirit, endangering the lives of many Iranians who rely on Hamoun wetlands for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.
Afghanistan has also built dams on the Hirmand which have constricted the water flow into Iran.