SECURITY — April 4, 2026
One Dead, 20 Rescued After Smugglers Abandon Migrants in Farah River
One migrant died and 20 were rescued in Farah province after smugglers abandoned them in a river during an attempt to illegally cross into Iran. Police spokesman Mullah Kalimullah Nangyal said security forces, including the 9th Border Brigade, conducted the rescue.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Pajhwok — 2 min read

FARAH, Afghanistan (Afghan Verified) — One individual died and 20 others were rescued after migrant smugglers abandoned 21 people in a river in Farah province while attempting an illegal crossing into Iran.
Police spokesman Mullah Kalimullah Nangyal said the incident took place in Joyeen district of Farah province. The group consisted of Afghans seeking to enter Iran without authorization.
"Smugglers abandoned the migrants in the river, leading to one death," Nangyal stated.
Security forces in Joyeen district, including intelligence personnel and the 1st Battalion of the 9th Border Brigade, launched a swift rescue operation. They pulled the 20 survivors from the river and provided immediate medical care.
The rescued individuals were subsequently transferred to a safe location for further assistance, Nangyal added.
No further details on the identity of the deceased or the survivors were immediately available. Authorities have not reported any arrests in connection with the smuggling operation.
Read the original reporting at Pajhwok →
Reliability assessment
Single source provides direct, on-record attribution from named police spokesman Mullah Kalimullah Nangyal with concrete, checkable details including specific location (Joyeen district, Farah province), casualty numbers (1 dead, 20 rescued out of 21), and involved forces (1st Battalion of 9th Border Brigade).
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Pajhwok
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
Security — Farah, Joyeen district, Mullah Kalimullah Nangyal, migrant smuggling, Iran border
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