FARAH, Afghanistan — Dozens of Afghan laborers, truck drivers, and customs agents at the Abu Nasr Farahi border crossing in Farah Province have gone on strike, protesting what they describe as discriminatory treatment and abuse by Iranian border guards.
The work stoppage, now in its third consecutive day, comes amid rising frustration over trade imbalances and severe restrictions on Afghan laborers entering the Iranian-run section of the border marketplace. According to protest leaders, Iranian authorities allow over 800 Iranian trucks into the terminal daily, while capping Afghan entries at fewer than 100 trucks.
“This inequality disrupts operations and forces goods to be unloaded on the ground,” read a petition submitted by strikers to the Taliban border commission.
Workers also claim that Iranian guards routinely deny entry to thousands of registered Afghan day laborers, despite previous agreements allowing 5,000 workers per day. Only 1,500 workers are currently permitted, leaving thousands stranded at the gates.
“Even those with valid ID cards are harassed, detained without cause, or blocked from entering,” one worker told Amu TV, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
The letter alleges “deeply humiliating behavior” by Iranian forces toward Afghan personnel — treatment that, according to strikers, violates basic human dignity.
The striking workers say they will continue the boycott of the Iranian side of the marketplace until their demands are addressed. Taliban officials in Farah have yet to issue a formal response.
