Tajikistan has formally called on the Taliban leadership to issue an official apology following a recent armed attack on a border checkpoint, raising fresh concerns over security and stability along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan frontier
Third armed incident in a month
According to Tajik media reports cited by The Caspian Post, Tajikistan’s National Security Committee said armed militants illegally crossed the border and attempted to attack a checkpoint. This was the third such armed assault in the past month, underlining what authorities described as a worrying pattern.
The committee stated that the intruders refused to surrender and opened resistance against Tajik border guards, forcing security forces to respond.
Militants neutralised, weapons seized
“As a result of the combat operation, three terrorists were neutralised,” the committee said in a statement. It added that border troops recovered weapons, explosives and ammunition from the attackers.
The incident has heightened alarm in Tajikistan, which shares a long and sensitive border with Afghanistan and has repeatedly warned about cross-border threats since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul.
Call for Taliban accountability
Tajikistan urged the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to take responsibility for preventing such incidents. The National Security Committee said it expects the Taliban leadership to apologise to the people of Tajikistan and to implement stronger measures to secure the border.
“The border troops hope that the Taliban leadership will apologise to the people of Tajikistan and take additional steps to secure the border,” the statement said.
Focus on regional stability
Officials stressed that strict border control and enhanced cooperation are essential to prevent further attacks and maintain stability in Central Asia. Tajikistan has long advocated greater international engagement to address security risks emanating from Afghanistan.
The country has also expressed concerns about militant groups potentially using Afghan territory to destabilise neighbouring states, a charge the Taliban has repeatedly denied.
A sensitive geopolitical frontier
Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan stretches over 1,300 km and is considered one of the most volatile in the region. Since the Taliban takeover, Dushanbe has maintained a cautious and often critical stance, unlike some other regional players that have engaged more openly with the new Afghan rulers.
The latest incident is likely to further strain already tense relations between Tajikistan and the Taliban administration, even as regional powers watch closely for signs of escalation or cooperation.