Kabul: A tense diplomatic and security situation has emerged along the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border after a series of cross-border attacks killed five Chinese nationals, prompting the Taliban-led Afghan government to pledge closer cooperation with Dushanbe to secure the frontier and prevent future incidents.
Tajik authorities reported that the attacks, carried out over the past week, involved armed assaults and drone-launched grenades targeting Chinese workers and other civilians near the remote border areas. The incidents left five Chinese citizens dead and five others injured, raising urgent concerns about the safety of foreign nationals operating in the region. The Chinese embassy in Dushanbe issued immediate warnings, advising all Chinese personnel and companies to evacuate affected areas and exercise heightened caution.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed Afghanistan’s “deep regret” over the fatalities during discussions with his Tajik counterpart. He assured that the Taliban government would strengthen border security, conduct joint investigations, and coordinate with Tajik authorities to address “malicious elements” operating along the frontier. Muttaqi emphasized the need to preserve the “atmosphere of trust” recently developed between Kabul and Dushanbe and warned that destabilizing activities should not undermine regional cooperation.
President Emomali Rahmon directed Tajik security services to reinforce border controls and enhance surveillance along the 1,350-kilometer border with Afghanistan. Tajik officials described the attacks as “illegal, provocative actions” and vowed to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The involvement of Chinese nationals has amplified the geopolitical stakes, given China’s significant economic presence and investments in Tajikistan.
Security analysts warn that repeated attacks along this mountainous frontier could strain Afghanistan-Tajikistan relations and disrupt economic and development projects involving foreign investors. The Taliban’s commitment to cooperation will be closely scrutinized, particularly in light of the challenges posed by non-state armed groups that operate with relative autonomy in remote areas. Observers also note that ensuring the safety of foreign nationals is critical to maintaining regional stability and investor confidence.
Officials from both Kabul and Dushanbe plan to convene joint border-security meetings in the coming days to develop coordinated preventive mechanisms, rapid-response protocols, and information-sharing systems. The success of these measures could determine whether this crisis becomes a turning point for Afghan-Tajik collaboration or exacerbates existing security vulnerabilities along the frontier.
In the meantime, the Chinese embassy’s warning has prompted immediate precautionary measures by companies operating in the affected border regions, with some temporarily relocating personnel or suspending operations until security conditions improve.