Iran's Ambassador to Kabul has announced that the Islamic Republic is cooperating with the Taliban in several areas, including border security, counterterrorism, and combating drug trafficking.
According to Kazemi Qomi, one of the key issues where the Taliban is cooperating is the construction of a wall along the Iran-Afghanistan border.
As reported by Iran's state news agency IRNA, Qomi stated that the physical closure of the border has "begun both on the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders”.
Kazemi Qomi, who also serves as the special representative of the Iranian President for Afghan affairs, discussed the latest developments regarding the physical closure of the Iran-Afghanistan border in an interview with IRNA. He said, "Border security is one of the areas where we are cooperating with the interim Afghan government. We are also collaborating with the interim government on counterterrorism, combating drug trafficking, and other matters."
The ambassador added that due to the length of the eastern border and the extensive nature of the wall construction, completing the physical closure of the border will take time. He noted, "In any case, security plans along the border are currently being implemented, and cooperation with the interim Afghan government is part of that."
Iran is one of the primary destinations for Afghan migrants, many of whom have left Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security, economic conditions, and educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Over the past three years, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled to Iran.
At the same time, as Afghan migration to Iran has increased, the Islamic Republic has intensified efforts to collect and deport undocumented Afghan migrants, with large numbers being expelled daily.
One of the major reasons for the physical closure of the Afghanistan-Iran border is to prevent the illegal entry of Afghan migrants and drug traffickers into Iran.