ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan has initiated formal talks with Russia on thepossible deployment of Russian forces to monitor its 1,344-kilometre borderwith Afghanistan following a series of deadly cross-border attacks thatclaimed the lives of five Chinese citizens last week.
Senior officials in Dushanbe confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations havegained momentum after incidents in the Gorno-Badakhshan region left fiveChinese nationals dead and another five wounded. The attacks, widelyattributed to militants operating from Afghan territory, have heightenedsecurity concerns in the Central Asian republic where Chineseinfrastructure projects employ thousands of workers.
Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Russia is prepared toprovide aerial surveillance and rapid-response capabilities, includinghelicopter patrols, if an agreement is reached. A decision is expectedbefore the end of this week, with both sides describing the talks asconstructive and urgent.
The proposed Russian involvement would mark a significant escalation inMoscow’s military footprint in Central Asia under the framework of theCollective Security Treaty Organisation. Tajikistan already hosts theRussian 201st Military Base, the largest foreign deployment of its kindoutside Russia.
Beijing has remained officially silent on the killings, but diplomaticchannels indicate strong concern over the safety of its citizens engaged inmining and road construction projects near the border. The Wakhan Corridor,a narrow strip of Afghan territory that separates Tajikistan from Pakistan,has long been identified as a potential infiltration route for extremistgroups.
Regional analysts warn that any permanent Russian military presence alongthe Tajik-Afghan frontier could alter the strategic balance in Central Asiaand draw sharp reactions from both Kabul and Western capitals already waryof expanding Russian influence.
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The development comes amid deteriorating security along the entireTajik-Afghan border, where smuggling and militant activity have increasedsince the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Tajikistan, along with otherCentral Asian states, has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration offailing to curb terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil.
Source:www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tajikistan-seeks-russian-troops-afghan-border-after-chinese-deaths-2025-12-02/”>https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tajikistan-seeks-russian-troops-afghan-border-after-chinese-deaths-2025-12-02/
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Citizens Killed