Taliban Takes Over Islam Qala Customs Post on Iran-Afghanistan Border

Media reports indicate that the Taliban has seized the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran. It is reported that trade between the two countries has been halted. According to Associated Press, Afghan soldiers have abandoned their posts and fled to Iran.

Taliban forces took control of the Islam Qala customs post on the Herat-Iran border on Thursday, July 8 (June 17 in the Persian calendar).

IRNA news agency reported, citing an Afghan journalist based in Herat: “After Afghan forces and customs officials fled, people entered the Herat customs post.”

Local authorities in Herat province have not yet commented on the matter.

According to IRNA, the Taliban group attacked Herat today and took control of two districts in the province, but local officials said they had “tactically” withdrawn from these districts.

ISNA news agency also reported that as of the evening of June 17, due to developments in Islam Qala near the border opposite “Dogharon” in Razavi Khorasan and Bandar Abunasr Farahi in Farah province opposite the “Mahirood” border in South Khorasan, Iran-Afghanistan trade has been suspended.

Ruhollah Latifi, spokesman for Iran’s customs, said: “Traders and merchants are requested to refrain from sending commercial shipments to the Dogharon and Mahirood borders pending further notice.”

“Afghan soldiers have fled to Iran”

The Associated Press also confirmed in a similar report the Taliban’s seizure of a strategic area on the border with Iran.

The agency added, citing an Afghan official who declined to be identified, that Afghan soldiers at the Islam Qala border have abandoned their posts and fled to Iran.

The Taliban advance is occurring as American forces complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

This is the third border crossing to be taken by the Taliban in the past week. Two other crossings on the borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were seized.

Taliban advances have caused some countries to close their consulates in Afghanistan. Russia, for example, closed its consulate general in Mazar-i-Sharif a few days ago due to escalating tensions in northern Afghanistan.

Taliban delegation enters Moscow

It was announced Thursday that a Taliban delegation has entered Moscow to conduct negotiations.

Taliban political representatives have traveled to Moscow multiple times over the past two years to negotiate with representatives of the Afghan government and political parties in the country.

Russia hopes to prepare conditions for a political settlement of disputes by involving the Taliban group in Afghan peace negotiations, following the completion of American forces’ withdrawal.

Since several months ago when American and NATO forces began withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Taliban has launched an offensive. The group now claims to control more than 80 districts out of Afghanistan’s total 421 districts.

Source: DW