5 Killed in Afghanistan–Tajikistan Border Clash

Five people were killed on Thursday in a deadly clash along the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, highlighting renewed security tensions in the volatile frontier region.

According to a statement from Tajikistan’s Border Protection Unit, the incident erupted when Tajik border guards confronted armed Afghan militants attempting to cross the border illegally. The exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of three Afghan militants and two Tajik border guards.

Tajik authorities said the latest incident marks the third such confrontation along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border in December alone, raising concerns about persistent instability and cross-border infiltration attempts.

Officials in Dushanbe urged the Afghan authorities to uphold their obligations to secure the shared border and prevent armed groups from operating in the area. Tajikistan also confirmed that the situation along the border has since been brought under control.

An official investigation has been launched to determine the full circumstances surrounding the clash, as regional security forces remain on heightened alert amid repeated incidents along one of Central Asia’s most sensitive borders.