KABUL – An Iranian Baloch political activist living in Afghanistan’s western Herat province was shot and later died from his injuries following an armed attack, local sources said Friday.
A source identified the victim as Haji Rustam Baloch, saying he was targeted by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday, October 8, along the Herat Customs Road and was critically wounded. He succumbed to his injuries the following night at Herat Regional Hospital.
According to the source, Rustam was a Sunni Baloch from Iran’s Khorasan province who had fled to Afghanistan to escape ethnic and religious persecution. He had been residing in the city of Herat for several years.
Another individual familiar with the case said Rustam had been pursued by Iranian security agencies before his death.
Haalvash, a media outlet that covers news from Iran’s Sistan and Balochistan province, reported that Rustam, described as a political opponent of the Iranian government, was shot by unidentified assailants in Herat. The outlet said he was known among Baloch activists for his outspoken criticism and opposition to the policies of the Islamic Republic.
However, Sabereen News, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Iranian government, claimed that Rustam was a member of the Jaish al-Adl armed group in Afghanistan and had been “identified and killed by unknown gunmen.”
Both Haalvash and sources in Herat rejected that claim, saying Rustam had no affiliation with Jaish al-Adl.
Local Taliban authorities in Herat have not yet commented on the killing of the Iranian political refugee.
