[WonderMomma]

On 27 May 2023, Taliban forces and Iranian border guards clashed along the Afghanistan/Iran border. This is taking place between the Afghan Nimroz Province and the Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan Province.



Article: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/i...-afghan-border

Iran, Taliban exchange heavy gunfire in conflict over water rights on Afghan border
May 27, 2023 10:54 AM EDT (14:54 UTC)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Taliban and Iran exchanged heavy gunfire Saturday on the Islamic Republic’s border with Afghanistan, sharply escalating rising tensions between the two nations amid a dispute over water rights.

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.”

Taliban-controlled media in Afghanistan did not acknowledge the fighting.

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.

Videos posted online, purportedly from the area, included the crackle of machine gun fire in the distance. HalVash later posted an image of what appeared to be the remains of a mortar round, saying that “heavy weapons and mortars are being used.” A later video from HalVash purported to show Iranian forces firing a mortar.

“The border forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will decisively respond to any border trespassing and aggression, and the current authorities of Afghanistan must be held accountable for their unmeasured and contrary actions to international principles,” IRNA quoted Iran’s police chief, Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, as saying.

The clash comes as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this month warned the Taliban not to violate Iran’s water rights to the Helmand River. Raisi’s remarks represented some of the strongest yet over the long-running concerns about water in Iran.

Drought has been a problem in Iran for some 30 years, but has worsened over the past decade, according to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization. The Iran Meteorological Organization says that an estimated 97 percent of the country now faces some level of drought.

The Taliban seized Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. In the time since, Afghanistan has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls, depriving them of virtually all their basic rights, according to the U.N. Hunger remains endemic.

While not directly accepting the Taliban government, Iran has maintained relations with Afghanistan’s new rulers. Tehran also has called on the Taliban to allow women and girls to go to school.

Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with an Iranian envoy to Afghanistan to discuss the Helmand River water rights, according to tweets from Afghan Foreign Ministry official Zia Ahmad. IRNA acknowledged the meeting, saying “that issues between the two countries will be better resolved through dialogue.”

But tensions have otherwise been rising. Another video posted online in recent days purportedly showed a standoff with Iranian forces and the Taliban as Iranian construction workers tried to reinforce the border between the two countries.

In recent days, pro-Taliban accounts online also have been sharing a video with a song calling on the acting defense minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, to stand up to Iran. Mullah Yaqoob is the son of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban’s late founder and first supreme leader.

“We are a government, we have power,” the song goes. “Our leader Mullah Yaqoob will stand against Iran or we are not the republic’s government. We are not slaves, our leader Mullah Yaqoob will stand against Iran.”

Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez in Islamabad and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.


2023 Clashes Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_A...0%93Iran_clash
2021 Clashes Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_A...93Iran_clashes

Taliban have torpedoed "good neighborly relations" with almost all Afghanistan neighbours except China. Since taking over power the count of border skirmishes are:

a. Pakistan: 18
b. Uzbekistan: 3.
c. Tajikistan: 7.
d. Iran: 9.
e. Turkmenistan: 2.


VIDEO:
"Yesterday (26 May), Taliban released a video on their social medias threatening Iran with military action. Tensions are now all time high between the neighbouring countries."

[WonderMomma]

1. "The Taliban has launched a war against Iran. On May 27, fighting broke out in Nimruz province as the Taliban attacked a border checkpoint and killed at least two Iranians. Fighting in the province continues. One of the Taliban leaders even announced plans to conquer Iran.

The conflict broke out over water rights on the Afghan border. The Helmand River flows from the Afghan mountains to the Iranian province of Sistan, where it flows into a lake that regularly dries up. Sistan province is currently suffering from drought, and Iran accuses the Taliban of building new dams on the river and diverting water, which is harming the arid eastern regions of Iran."


2. "Armed clash between Iran & Taliban begins at Nimruz border as tensions escalate over Water dispute"


3. Taliban positions have been shelled by Iranian artillery.

[WonderMomma]

"Iran closes Pol-e-Abrisham border crossing with Afghanistan after today’s clashes."



1. "Taliban also deployed its elite special forces 'Badri' along the border with Iran after today’s intense clashes."

2. "Abdul Hamid Khorasani - Head of Taliban’s elite forces 'Badri Unit' releases a video message:

"We will fight against Iran with more enthusiasm than we fought against Americans. Iran should be grateful for the patience of the Taliban leaders. If Taliban leaders allow us, we will conquer Iran.""

[WonderMomma]

"Sunnis against Shiites!

The game is on: the Taliban in Afghanistan (Sunnis) today declare war on (Shiite) Iran, in an official announcement by the leader of the Taliban, Abdelhamid Khorsani (pictured). Iranian soldiers killed at the border (Taliban video)."

1. Taliban deploying troops to the border.

2. "Taliban RPG7 operator targeting Iranian Border Police post earlier today."

[WonderMomma]

"Taliban official says Iran has 'corrupt regime' , media report. “We will fight Iran with more zeal than America. If our leaders allow jihad, we will soon conquer Iran,” they said. The Taliban reportedly took over Iranian posts on the border."

[WonderMomma]

NO MEDIA:
As Iran and Taliban border issue escalates, Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, member of the National Security Commission of Iran said the following:

"The Taliban is not a government but rather a collection of scattered groups, and whoever wakes up earlier in the morning can seize power in Afghanistan."

VIDEO:
"Taliban makes fun of Iran.

With the warning to the President of Iran 'Raisi', taliban general Mobeen fills the yellow barrel with water and says sarcastically: "Mr. Raisi, take this water barrel and don't attack."

The yellow barrels are a symbol of the Taliban's infamous Suicide Attacks."

[fattubbashit]

Fuck politics. Where's the action?

[depraved1]

Good stuff, thanks WonderMomma!