Afghanistan (HRNW) – Tajik authorities announced on Thursday that three Chinese nationals were killed after a drone attack was launched from Afghan territory near the shared border. The incident highlights rising instability along the frontier and ongoing tensions between Tajikistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
Attack Carried Out With Armed Drone
In an official statement, Tajikistan said the strike occurred on the night of November 26, 2025, targeting the employee camp of LLC Shohin SM near the 1st Border Guard Post “Istiqlol” in the Khatlon region.
According to authorities, the assault was conducted using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with grenades and small arms.
The attack killed three Chinese workers employed by LLC Shohin SM.
Tajik officials condemned the strike, blaming “criminal groups” operating inside Afghanistan and urging the Afghan authorities to take meaningful steps to prevent further cross-border violence.
Tajikistan Condemns ‘Terrorist Acts’
The government said Tajikistan has consistently worked to maintain security and stability in the border region, but hostile actions originating from Afghan territory continue.
The Tajik government expressed deep concern and “strongly condemned” the attack, calling on Afghanistan’s ruling authorities to ensure peace and strengthen border security between the neighboring states.
Militants Active Along the Mountainous Border
AFP reports that various militant groups based in Afghanistan are active along the 1,350-kilometre (840-mile) mountainous border.
Tajikistan, a Muslim-majority nation and one of the poorest in the former Soviet region, has been increasingly worried about extremist activity since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
President Emomali Rakhmon, in office since 1992, has repeatedly criticized the Taliban and urged respect for the rights of ethnic Tajiks, who make up roughly one-quarter of Afghanistan’s population.
Cooperation Continues Despite Tensions
Despite political friction, Tajikistan has cautiously maintained certain forms of engagement with the Taliban, including diplomatic meetings, market access in border towns, and electricity exports.
The Tajik Foreign Ministry restated Thursday that criminal groups operating in Afghanistan “continue to carry out actions aimed at destabilizing the border region.”
Chinese Investments Targeted Again
China has a growing economic presence in Tajikistan, particularly in mining and natural resource projects located near the Afghan frontier.
This is not the first time Chinese nationals have been targeted; a Chinese worker was killed in a similar attack near the border last year.
