4 injured as Iranian forces shell Afghan post

ZARANJ (PAN): A border police guard and three civilians were injured when Iranian forces shelled an Afghan security post in southwestern Nimroz province, an official said on Tuesday.

The cross-border attack came after Afghan police stopped Iranians from dicerting water from the Sikhzar canal on Monday, said the provincial border police chief, , Col. Ghulam Haidar.

The 30-kilometre canal, located inside Afghanistan).

“Iranian forces wanted to divert the canal water to Dost Mohammad Khan village in Iran without permission. Afghan border police stopped them from doing so,” the police chief said.

The attack by Iranian border police was a result of the water dispute, he added. Heavy and light weapons were used in the attack in the Derwaishak area, according to Col. Haidar. A policeman, two women and an 8-year-old child were wounded.

Shukrullah Haidarkhel, director of the Zaranj Civil Hospital, confirmed receiving three wounded people. He said they were in stable condition.

Though Haider was unaware about causalities among Iranian forces, resident Noor Ali said bloodstains were seen on the Iranian side of the border. “Some Iranian border may have been killed or wounded,” he believed.

Last year, Iranian border police strayed 200 metres into Kang district of Nimroz and shot injured a civilian.

In a counterattack, Afghan border police killed one Iranian policeman and arrested a senior military official, who was later handed over to the neighbouring country.

am/ma/mud