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Amid increasing tensions between Iran and Afghanistan, the Taliban forces carried out a military drill near the border with Iran.
The state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported that the war game took place in Nimruz, located in the southwestern part of Afghanistan, east of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province.
These drills occurred in the context of escalating tensions fueled by a longstanding water dispute. Iran has accused the Taliban of violating a 1973 treaty by restricting the flow of water from the Helmand River to Iran’s eastern regions, which are suffering from water scarcity. The Taliban denies these allegations.
The month of May witnessed a series of incidents that exacerbated tensions between the two countries, with the deadliest being a shootout near a border post resulting in the deaths of two Iranian soldiers and one Taliban fighter.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had previously warned the Taliban regarding Iran’s water rights under the 1973 treaty. In response, a former Taliban official posted a viral video mocking the president and rejecting the perceived threat.
Furthermore, evidence emerged last month showing a convoy of Taliban tanks being deployed from Herat to Islam Qala on the border with Iran. This, along with the presence of heavily armed forces in the region, indicates an increased military presence since the escalation of the water dispute.
These developments underscore the mounting tensions between Iran and the Taliban, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the region.
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