Iran Tuesday summoned the Afghan envoy to Tehran, a day after several protests in front of its embassy in Kabul and consulates in Afghan cities over the alleged mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran. In some cases, stones were also pelted at the missions. Tensions have been growing between the two countries over the growing refugee crisis and the alleged mistreatment of Afghans. 
"The Afghan charge d’affaires in Tehran was summoned in protest over attacks on the Iranian embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat in Afghanistan on Monday," The Iranian state media reported.

On Monday, dozens of people staged demonstrations in front of Iranian missions in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raising the issue with the Iranian Ambassador in Kabul. Protestors pelted stones at the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and its consulate in Herat as anger grew after several viral videos showed the alleged mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, a charge Tehran denies.

Iran has reportedly sought the protection of its diplomatic missions in the country and “necessary guarantees” for the safe operations of its missions, TOLOnews reported.

“The missions are currently open and continuing working,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Khatibzadeh said, but added "that Iran expects the rulers of Afghanistan to responsibly provide security for Iranian diplomats and diplomatic missions in Afghanistan and protect them.”
Around five million Afghan refugees are currently in Iran, with the one million who fled in the last seven months after the Taliban’s takeover of the country, making Tehran concerned over the lack of resources to deal with the crisis.

The videos that went viral showed Afghans being brutally thrashed and beaten by what seemed to be personnel of Iranian security forces, and in some cases even by certain groups of civilians.
 
Iranian officials on Monday denied there was any mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, state television reported.

"Unfortunately, some clips and comments are being published with the aim of creating phobia of Iran or Afghanistan, which targets the emotions of the people and demands more vigilance from the people and officials of the two countries," Khatibzadeh was quoted as saying by TOLOnews.

(SAM)