Iranian Guard Killed In Clashes On Afghanistan Border

Mohammad Sayyad, the Iranian border guard who was killed in clashes at the Milak border crossing in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on June 28
Mohammad Sayyad, the Iranian border guard who was killed in clashes at the Milak border crossing in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on June 28

Conflicting reports surround the death of an Iranian soldier who was killed at the border with Afghanistan, while Tehran has urged the Taliban for justice for those behind the incident. 

In a statement on Wednesday, Iran’s new foreign ministry spokesman Naser Kanani said Mohammad Sayyad died in line of duty by unknown gunmen at the Milak border crossing in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on Tuesday.

Other reports say that the young border guard was killed in clashes with the Taliban. 

Citing local sources, Afghanistan’s Hasht-e-Subh Daily said he was killed when a skirmish broke out after Taliban forces entered Iran "following the killing and wounding of two Afghan boys by Islamic Republic border guards."

Kanani said an investigation has been launched into the case and more details will be made public as soon as they are verified.

Iran’s official news agency IRNA said that the border guard was killed in clashes with armed outlaws who wanted to enter the country from Afghanistan. 

Meysam Barazandeh, the governor of the Iranian border town of Hirmand, rejected reports that two Iranian border guards have been also captured by the Taliban. 

In April, the border crossing Dogharoon was temporarily shut down following a “dispute” between Iranian and Afghan border guards.

There have been some incidents at the border since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan last year. An Iranian foreign ministry official in January said that the reason for clashes between Iranian forces and the Taliban was lack of professional conduct by the latter.