The Iranian authorities have completed the construction of a wall over 10 km long on the border with Afghanistan and plan to build another 50 km. This was announced by Brigadier General Nozar Nemati, Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, Tehran Times reported.
Earlier, it was reported that Iran intends to build a wall on this section of the state border, 295 km long and 4 meters high. Nemati emphasized that closing the border increases security and prevents smuggling, which will contribute to the country's economic growth and effective management of border crossings.
"Work to close the border began in the northern section of the border with Afghanistan, where a special headquarters was established to oversee the operation. This systematic approach is being implemented with significant participation from the army's ground forces," the general said.
According to Nemati, four combat engineering groups, 14 engineering units, and several combat-ready companies from various parts of the country are involved in the construction of the wall.
"Five workshops are actively engaged in building the wall, and hundreds of engineering machines from the Iranian army's ground forces are continuously working to ensure the timely completion of the border fortification project," Nemati added.
The Iran-Afghanistan border stretches over 900 km. Iran hosts one of the largest groups of Afghan refugees in the world. The flow of Afghan immigrants has increased since the Taliban came to power in Kabul in August 2021.
Tehran does not publish official data on the number of Afghan refugees, but Member of Parliament Abolfazl Torabi estimates that there are "between six and seven million" in the country.
Dawn, citing the official Iranian news agency IRNA, reports that Afghans make up more than 90% of foreign nationals in Iran, most of whom enter the country without identity documents.
Iranian authorities have intensified pressure on illegal refugees and regularly announce cases of mass deportations.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 24, 2024