Iran Sealing Borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan

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Iran is shutting its borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan to increase security following a twin bombing that killed at least 89 people in Kerman on January 3. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated that his government is prioritizing border crossings along these borders, which span almost 1,000 kilometers.

The bombings targeted people attending ceremonies marking the fourth anniversary of General Qasem Soleimani’s assassination in Iraq in 2020. The Islamic State (IS) extremist group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, claiming that two of its members detonated explosive belts in the crowd. Vahidi stated that intelligence agencies have found good clues regarding the terrorist explosions in Kerman and that a number of those involved have been arrested.

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not responded to the announcement of border closures, despite condemning the January 3 attack. Iran has accused both countries of allowing illegal immigrants and terrorists to cross the border, threatening Iran’s national security. Afghan security expert Ahmad Khan Andar warns against blocking Afghanistan’s borders and suggests joint fighting against terrorists along their shared border.

The Taliban has been fighting against the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) since 2015, but analysts believe the mountainous border regions remain porous and the group is far from eliminating it. Iran, Afghanistan’s northern central Asia neighbors, and Russia consider IS and IS-K a significant security threat.