Reports from the Afghan press indicate that an artillery exchange occurred along the Afghanistan–Iran border, involving Iranian border forces and Taliban elements. The Afghan daily Hasht-e Subh cited sources in Zaranj to describe injuries sustained by a Taliban fighter, who is listed by some authorities as part of a group subsequently designated as banned by Russia. The account underscores the volatility of border-area security and the high stakes for civilians living near the frontier, where military actions can rapidly alter the local security landscape and influence cross-border dynamics.
The same reporting notes substantial damage to civilian housing alongside targeted strikes on a Taliban security compound located within the province that borders Iran. The emphasis of the Afghan sources is on the scale of the disruption caused by the clashes, and on the strategic targets affected by the fighting, including security posts that serve as operational hubs for Taliban activity in the border region.
According to Hasht-e Subh, clashes between Iranian forces and Taliban units persisted throughout the day on 5 March, with reports suggesting the contest was brought to a temporary pause by later developments. The narrative from Afghan reporters frames the day as a sequence of confrontations rather than isolated incidents, highlighting the potential for renewed flare-ups and the ongoing risk to border communities as different parties adjust their postures and tactical priorities toward the border corridor.
Earlier coverage from other media outlets had referenced explosions in Mahabad and at facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, drawing attention to a broader pattern of regional volatility that intersects Persian Gulf security concerns with Afghanistan-related instability. The cross-border repercussions of such events are frequently debated in regional security circles, where analysts assess the timing, scale, and possible spillover effects into adjacent frontier zones and urban centers.
Additionally, in Kabul, Taliban security forces were reported to have conducted a nocturnal operation resulting in the detention of two militants and a third individual linked to the Islamic State group, which is listed as a banned organization in Russia. The operation appeared to be part of wider efforts to disrupt militant networks operating across or near the capital, reflecting ongoing counterinsurgency activities that aim to curb insurgent capabilities while maintaining control over key urban nodes. This sequence of actions is often interpreted as a signal of continued Taliban vigilance in domestic security matters, even as attention remains focused on border-region confrontations and the international implications of cross-border militant activity, which frequently invites regional and global scrutiny without large-scale escalation.