Rafiullah Nikzad 31.07.2026
The bodies of 14 Afghan nationals who had gone missing while attempting to travel to Iran through an irregular border route have been found in the Gard-e Lalaw area of Chahar Burjak district in Nimroz province.
According to local sources, the victims were part of a group of 19 Afghan nationals who disappeared in recent weeks while trying to cross the desert into Iran.
Videos obtained by media outlets show several of the bodies partially buried under sand and dust. The footage also shows that, in what appeared to be their final hours, the victims had used their clothing to build makeshift shelters to protect themselves from the scorching desert heat. Several bodies were found lying beside these improvised shelters.
The bodies were discovered in the Gard-e Lalaw desert, approximately 63 kilometers from the Milak border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran.
Earlier, the body of another member of the same group had been recovered from the desert.
Local sources said the victims are believed to have died from extreme heat, dehydration, and exhaustion after becoming stranded in the remote desert.
Previously, Gul Mohammad Qudrat, spokesperson for the Taliban police command in Nimroz, said the travelers had become trapped in severe environmental conditions and died from thirst and the harsh terrain.
Taliban authorities also said that search operations, including the use of helicopters, had been launched to locate the remaining missing individuals.
After the first five bodies were recovered, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the incident illustrated the deadly consequences of dangerous and irregular migration journeys. The agency added that it was working with its partner organizations to support the affected families.
