On 8 August 1998, amidst the Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif, the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was attacked as the Taliban were besieging the city. Initially, only the deaths of eight Iranian diplomats was reported, but two other diplomats and a journalist were later confirmed dead as well, bringing the total casualty rate to 11 personnel.[1] The executions of the diplomats are speculated to have been carried out by Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.[2][3] During this time, Iran was supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, and the killings heightened direct military tensions along the Afghanistan–Iran border, which was controlled on the Afghan side by the Taliban's Islamic Emirate at the time.
Before this incident, Iran was supportive of the Afghan Northern Alliance, and the city of Mazari Sharif was one of the headquarters of the alliance. It is reported that between May and July 1997 Abdul Malik Pahlawan executed thousands of Taliban prisoners as revenge for the 1995 death of Abdul Ali Mazari. "He is widely believed to have been responsible for the brutal massacre of up to 3,000 Taliban prisoners after inviting them into Mazar-i-Sharif."[4] As revenge, Taliban forces captured Mazar-i-Sharif and killed hundreds of Northern Alliance members, particularly members of the Hazara and Uzbek ethnic groups as they were accused of being the ones who carried out the killings of Taliban prisoners.[citation needed]
Incidentedit
On 8 August 1998, Taliban forces captured Mazar-i-Sharif. After this incident, 11 Iranian diplomats and Mahmoud Saremi, a correspondent from Iran's state news agency (IRNA), were attacked at the Iranian consulate and subsequently disappeared. Unofficial reports from the city indicated that all these men were killed. Later it was confirmed that 8 of the Iranian diplomats and Saremi were killed by the Taliban militia attacking the consulate. The Taliban spokesmen said the Iranians had been killed by renegade forces who had acted without orders.[5] The final death toll was confirmed later to be 11 according to Tehran Times.[1]
Aftermathedit
Actors portraying the attackers, from the 2015 Iranian film Mazar Sharif
This incident caused a public furor in Iran and many observers were concerned that Iran would be involved in a military response to the attack. At the time, over 70,000 Iranian troops were deployed along the Afghan border.[6][7] Mediation by the United Nations defused the situation and all the hostages were eventually released. Later in February 1999, the Taliban and Iran held talks, but relations between them did not improve.[8] Subsequently, Iran decided to support the Northern Alliance, an anti-Taliban front.[9]
August 8 is named National Journalists' Day in Iran, in memory of Mahmoud Saremi, the IRNA correspondent killed in this attack.[10]
In popular cultureedit
An Iranian film Mazar Sharif was made on this story in 2015. Abdolhassan Barzideh was the director.[11]
^ ab"Film on 1998 Iranian diplomats' murder in Mazar-i-Sharif premieres in Tehran". Tehran Times. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
^Riedel, Bruce (2010). The Search for Al Qaeda: Its Leadership, Ideology, and Future (2nd Revised ed.). Brookings Institution. pp. 66–67. ISBN978-0-8157-0451-5.
^Gutman, Roy (2008). How We Missed the Story: Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban, and the Hijacking of Afghanistan. Institute of Peace Press. pp. 142. ISBN978-1-60127-024-5.
^"Afghan powerbrokers: Who's who". BBC News. 19 November 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
^Jehl, Douglas (11 September 1998). "Iran Holds Taliban Responsible for 9 Diplomats' Deaths". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Jehl, Douglas (12 September 1998). "For Death of Its Diplomats, Iran Vows Blood for Blood". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Session 53 The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and securityS/1998/1109 page 2. 23 November 1998. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
^"Taliban, Iran hold talks". CNN. 3 February 1999. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^"Why Iran is Concerned with Taliban 2.0". 5 October 2021.
^"Iran marks National Journalists' Day". Mehr News. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
1998, killing, iranian, diplomats, afghanistan, august, 1998, amidst, battles, mazar, sharif, iranian, consulate, mazar, sharif, attacked, taliban, were, besieging, city, initially, only, deaths, eight, iranian, diplomats, reported, other, diplomats, journalis. On 8 August 1998 amidst the Battles of Mazar i Sharif the Iranian consulate in Mazar i Sharif was attacked as the Taliban were besieging the city Initially only the deaths of eight Iranian diplomats was reported but two other diplomats and a journalist were later confirmed dead as well bringing the total casualty rate to 11 personnel 1 The executions of the diplomats are speculated to have been carried out by Sipah e Sahaba Pakistan 2 3 During this time Iran was supporting the anti Taliban Northern Alliance and the killings heightened direct military tensions along the Afghanistan Iran border which was controlled on the Afghan side by the Taliban s Islamic Emirate at the time 1998 killing of Iranian diplomats in AfghanistanPart of the Battles of Mazar i SharifMazar i SharifLocationMazar i Sharif AfghanistanCoordinates36 42 N 67 07 E 36 700 N 67 117 E 36 700 67 117Date8 August 1998 UTC 04 30 TargetIranian diplomatsDeaths11 incl one journalist PerpetratorTalibanParticipantSipah e Sahaba Pakistan alleged MotiveIran s support for the anti Taliban Northern Alliance during the Afghan Civil War Contents 1 Background 2 Incident 3 Aftermath 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground editFurther information Battles of Mazar i Sharif 1997 98 Before this incident Iran was supportive of the Afghan Northern Alliance and the city of Mazari Sharif was one of the headquarters of the alliance It is reported that between May and July 1997 Abdul Malik Pahlawan executed thousands of Taliban prisoners as revenge for the 1995 death of Abdul Ali Mazari He is widely believed to have been responsible for the brutal massacre of up to 3 000 Taliban prisoners after inviting them into Mazar i Sharif 4 As revenge Taliban forces captured Mazar i Sharif and killed hundreds of Northern Alliance members particularly members of the Hazara and Uzbek ethnic groups as they were accused of being the ones who carried out the killings of Taliban prisoners citation needed Incident editOn 8 August 1998 Taliban forces captured Mazar i Sharif After this incident 11 Iranian diplomats and Mahmoud Saremi a correspondent from Iran s state news agency IRNA were attacked at the Iranian consulate and subsequently disappeared Unofficial reports from the city indicated that all these men were killed Later it was confirmed that 8 of the Iranian diplomats and Saremi were killed by the Taliban militia attacking the consulate The Taliban spokesmen said the Iranians had been killed by renegade forces who had acted without orders 5 The final death toll was confirmed later to be 11 according to Tehran Times 1 Aftermath edit nbsp Actors portraying the attackers from the 2015 Iranian film Mazar Sharif This incident caused a public furor in Iran and many observers were concerned that Iran would be involved in a military response to the attack At the time over 70 000 Iranian troops were deployed along the Afghan border 6 7 Mediation by the United Nations defused the situation and all the hostages were eventually released Later in February 1999 the Taliban and Iran held talks but relations between them did not improve 8 Subsequently Iran decided to support the Northern Alliance an anti Taliban front 9 August 8 is named National Journalists Day in Iran in memory of Mahmoud Saremi the IRNA correspondent killed in this attack 10 In popular culture editAn Iranian film Mazar Sharif was made on this story in 2015 Abdolhassan Barzideh was the director 11 See also editAttack on the Iranian Embassy in London 2018 References edit a b Film on 1998 Iranian diplomats murder in Mazar i Sharif premieres in Tehran Tehran Times 25 August 2015 Retrieved 7 August 2017 Riedel Bruce 2010 The Search for Al Qaeda Its Leadership Ideology and Future 2nd Revised ed Brookings Institution pp 66 67 ISBN 978 0 8157 0451 5 Gutman Roy 2008 How We Missed the Story Osama Bin Laden the Taliban and the Hijacking of Afghanistan Institute of Peace Press pp 142 ISBN 978 1 60127 024 5 Afghan powerbrokers Who s who BBC News 19 November 2001 Retrieved 1 April 2011 Jehl Douglas 11 September 1998 Iran Holds Taliban Responsible for 9 Diplomats Deaths The New York Times Retrieved 4 November 2008 Jehl Douglas 12 September 1998 For Death of Its Diplomats Iran Vows Blood for Blood The New York Times Retrieved 4 November 2008 Session 53 The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security S 1998 1109 page 2 23 November 1998 Retrieved 2008 11 04 Taliban Iran hold talks CNN 3 February 1999 Retrieved 4 November 2008 Why Iran is Concerned with Taliban 2 0 5 October 2021 Iran marks National Journalists Day Mehr News 8 August 2014 Retrieved 6 August 2018 Mazar Sharif 2015 IMDB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1998 killing of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan amp oldid 1217484361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
