Calls for swift investigation in case of drowning Afghan migrants by Iranian border forces

 Calls for swift investigation in case of  drowning Afghan migrants by Iranian border forces

Talks between border commissioners of Afghanistan and Iran concerning last month’s alleged drowning of Afghan migrants by the Iranian border police ended without results on Friday, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Moving forward, the two countries will pursue the issue through diplomatic channels, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The case will be referred to diplomatic channels. Iran’s deputy foreign minister will visit Afghanistan and will participate in the joint investigation with the Afghan side,” said Geran Hewad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has also called for a swift investigation of the case. The human rights commission has termed the incident a major human rights violation.

“We should get to the bottom of this human rights violation and its hidden and unhidden aspects,” said Zabihullah Farhang, the head of the media department of the human rights commission.

“We need to get to the bottom of the facts and decide whether it can be through diplomatic channels or something else. This issue needs to be clarified, those who have committed this crime should be brought to justice,” said Abdul Zahir Tamim, member of the Afghan parliament.

At the end of April, over 50 Afghan migrants were trying to cross the border when they were “tortured and drowned” by Iranian guards, according to eyewitnesses.

On May 8, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani tasked a 10-member team to probe reports of the drowning of dozens of Afghan migrants by Iranian border security forces earlier this week.

Courtesy: Tolo News

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