Deputy Interior Minister: Illegal Afghan migrants most important security issue for Iran-Afghanistan

The Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement says the most significant security issue between Iran and Afghanistan is illegal Afghan migrants and their movement within Iran, putting legal and illegal Afghan migrants in Iran at 4.5 and 2 million respectively.

Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, referring to the problems along the border between Iran and Afghanistan, noted that Iran is working to secure its borders through wall construction, but experts from both countries need to determine the precise border lines.

Pourjamshidian added that combating terrorism along the borders of Iran with Afghanistan and Pakistan is one of the most critical security issues in Iran’s eastern borders, which requires close cooperation in intelligence and security matters.

The Deputy Minister also stated that despite Afghan leaders declaring a ban on the cultivation of narcotics and opium, there are still significant reserves of drugs in Afghanistan that are being transported to Iran through the eastern borders.

The Iranian official also identified human trafficking and kidnapping as serious issues with Afghanistan, saying that there are gangs involved in organized crimes in both Iran and Afghanistan, and addressing this problem also requires mutual cooperation.

Pourjamshidian was among the officials who accompanied the Iranian Foreign Minister in his recent visit to Afghanistan.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.