Advocacy group says Iran, Taliban fight on border with Afghanistan as sound of gunfire heard

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Taliban and Iran reportedly have exchanged gunfire on the Islamic Republic’s border with Afghanistan. That’s according to the HalVash advocacy group’s report Saturday as tensions rise over water rights between the two nations. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged the fighting on the border of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province and the Afghan province of Nimroz, saying its forces inflicted “heavy casualties and serious damage.” However, it stopped short of identifying those it fired at as Taliban forces — possibly trying not to escalate the clash. The Taliban did not acknowledge the incident.