Dushanbe: Tajikistan has opened formal negotiations with Russia and the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to bolster the protection of its long and volatile border with Afghanistan. The move comes amid a sharp deterioration of security conditions along the frontier, prompting urgent discussions on deploying Russian troops, aviation units, and surveillance assets to support Tajik forces.
The high-level consultations follow a series of shocking attacks that originated from Afghan territory and struck near Tajikistan’s border last week. The violence claimed the lives of five Chinese citizens and left five more injured, raising alarms not only in Dushanbe but also in Beijing, which maintains significant infrastructure and mining interests in Tajikistan. Chinese authorities have since issued a strong travel advisory, urging their nationals to immediately leave the affected border areas.
In response to the attacks, President Emomali Rahmon convened an emergency meeting of security leaders, pushing forward discussions on strengthening border operations. The State Committee for National Security later confirmed that talks with Russia and CSTO partners were underway.
According to security sources cited by Reuters, the deliberations include the possibility of activating Russia’s largest foreign military base located near Dushanbe to assist Tajik forces. The proposed support may involve Russian helicopters, aerial surveillance systems, and joint patrol mechanisms designed to monitor the rugged mountainous border, where remote passes often serve as corridors for smugglers and militant groups.
One source familiar with the negotiations revealed that a decision could come “within this week,” signaling the urgency with which Tajikistan views the deteriorating situation. Another insider suggested that the plan also includes enhanced intelligence-sharing and real-time monitoring of border movements.
The involvement of the CSTO a regional military alliance consisting of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, and Tajikistan underscores the broader security stakes. The alliance has long considered instability in Afghanistan a direct threat to Central Asian states, particularly regarding terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and cross-border extremism.
If an agreement is finalized, the coordinated operation could mark one of the most significant CSTO interventions in recent years, reflecting collective concern over Afghanistan’s escalating internal turmoil and its spillover effects.
Tajikistan’s 1,344-kilometre border with Afghanistan is among the most difficult in the region to secure. Its mountainous geography limits visibility, complicates patrols, and provides natural cover for illicit movements. Since Tajik border guards assumed full responsibility for the frontier in 2005, they have struggled with limited manpower, inadequate equipment, and occasional spikes in cross-border infiltration.
The recent attacks highlight how quickly the security environment can shift and how reliant Tajikistan may become on allied military support to maintain stability. Analysts say the latest developments could reshape the region’s defense landscape, reasserting Russia’s role as a security guarantor in Central Asia.
As consultations continue, expectations are building for a swift resolution. Both Tajikistan and its allies appear determined to prevent further violence and reinforce one of the region’s most fragile borders. A formal deployment of Russian forces would signal a major strategic recalibration one aimed at containing the growing threats emanating from Afghanistan and safeguarding Central Asia’s broader security interests.
Tajikistan’s decision, anticipated within days, may well define the next phase of regional cooperation in a landscape marked by uncertainty and escalating cross-border risks.