Taliban Says 19 Afghans Detained on Illegal Herat-Iran Border Crossing Route

The Taliban administration says 19 Afghan nationals have been detained by forces affiliated with the 207 Al-Farooq Corps while trying to cross illegally from Herat into Iran, highlighting once again the pressures and risks of informal movement through the country’s western border crossings.

According to IRAF, the 207 Al-Farooq Corps said on Friday, Oct. 9, that the individuals were identified and detained in the Musa Abad area of Ghorian district in Herat province. The group said the detainees had intended to enter Iran through Afghanistan’s border routes without legal documents.

In a statement released by the corps, it said the detainees were handed over to the Ghorian district authorities after initial procedures. The Taliban administration also claimed it had recently ‘foiled’ several similar cases and prevented dozens of undocumented Afghans from entering Iran illegally.

Afghanistan’s western borders, especially routes linked to Herat, have in recent years been among the busiest pathways for illegal migration, a movement that is usually accompanied by risks to life, exploitation by human smuggling networks and security confrontations. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that migrants should enter Iran only through official and legal channels.