By Emran | 2024-10-23

A mass killing of Afghan migrants at the Iran-Pakistan border in Sistan and Baluchestan province by Iranian border forces has sparked outrage among both Afghans and Iranians.

Iranian border forces on October 13 opened fire on about 300 Afghans attempting to cross into Iran from Pakistan.

While official casualty numbers remain undisclosed, the human rights organization Haalvsh reported that 260 Afghan migrants were killed, with numerous others wounded.

Graphic images on social media show bloodied victims and survivors.

"We were ambushed at the Kala Gan border area," a survivor said in an online video.

"There were 300 of us, and nearly 270 to 280 were killed. Maybe 50 to 60 managed to escape, while the rest were martyred. Ten to 12 of my friends were among those lost," he added.

Iranian border forces fired both light and heavy weapons, said eyewitnesses.

Crime against humanity

The attack clearly represents a crime against humanity, said Javad, an Iranian human rights activist based in Zahedan.

"Afghans come to Iran to make a living and escape unemployment and hardship. The group of migrants who were attacked were in this same situation," Javad told Pishtaz.

"This incident is extremely shocking, and those responsible must be brought to justice," he said.

The migrants wanted solely to provide for their families, and world human rights organizations must investigate, he added.

The killing of hundreds of innocent women, men and children who had sought refuge in Iran could come only from a criminal and oppressive regime, said Ismail, another resident of Zahedan.

"The security forces of this [Iranian] government have not only massacred Afghans but have always killed Iranians as well," he said.

"We have not suffered any harm from Afghan migrants in our country. ... [T]hey do extremely hard jobs day and night just to provide for their families," he added.

The incident has drawn criticism from the international community.

The rights of migrants and refugees are protected by international law and should not be subjected to attack, Farhan Haq, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said.

Amnesty International called for the prosecution of those responsible for shooting at Afghan migrants.

The Iranian regime will not change, moderate or reform itself, Australian senator Claire Chandler said after the massacre.

"It's a murderous and barbaric regime which knows that the compulsion of western officials to negotiate with them protects them against real action and consequences for their repeated human rights abuses and terrorism," Chandler said on X October 16.