Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe incident, according to authorities in Dushanbe, resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
According to reports by Tajik media citing officials from the country’s security forces, an armed clash has occurred along the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The incident, according to authorities in Dushanbe, resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
The reports say that border forces of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security stated the clash took place on Thursday evening near one of the border posts. A group that had entered from inside Afghanistan and was attempting to cross the border illegally engaged in an armed confrontation with Tajik border guards.
Tajik authorities said that during the exchange of fire, three individuals were killed, while two others retreated back into Afghan territory.
The report adds that several weapons and a quantity of narcotics were also seized following the incident.
According to a section of Tajik media reports: “During the exchange of fire, three individuals were killed at the scene. The identities of the deceased were announced as Javid son of Dawlatmand, Rashid son of Dawlatmand, and Saber son of Zahir, residents of Takhar province. Two other individuals returned to Afghan territory under the cover of darkness.”
Military analyst Asadullah Nadim said that most incidents along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border are linked to smuggling and require greater intelligence cooperation, closer coordination between border forces, and stronger preventive measures by both countries to stop smugglers from crossing the border.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan told TOLOnews that Afghan and Tajik border forces remain in coordination, that the recent incident has been shared with the Islamic Emirate, and that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is making efforts to resolve border-related issues and to prevent smuggling. For many years, this border has been used by smugglers through various methods. Although our forces are aware of these issues, the border area is extensive, and at times smugglers take advantage of this. In the recent incident, smugglers attempted to cross the border and were confronted by Tajik border police. Nevertheless, our forces remain in coordination with Tajik forces, have shared the issue, and will work to prevent such incidents in the future.”
This comes as, in a previous incident in which two Tajik border guards were killed, the foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan described the event as an attempt to disrupt relations between Kabul and Dushanbe.