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KABUL • Afghanistan said it had summoned Iran's representative to complain about reports of Afghan minors being sentenced to death for drug smuggling and the forced expulsion of refugees.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Kabir Farahi also raised concern at the meeting on Thursday about claims that Afghan nationals were beaten up in Tehran, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It is not unusual in Iran for drug smugglers of Afghan origin to be executed in border provinces.

Afghanistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Kabir Farahi raised concern at the meeting that "these children are being misused by drug smugglers and their conviction is contrary to human rights, international standards and the very good relations between two countries," The deputy minister asked the Iranian charge d'affaires, Ghulam Raza Nafar, to take up the issue with his government.