KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Three Chinese nationals were killed in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province after a drone attack launched from the territory of Afghanistan, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
In a statement, the ministry said the incident took place on Wednesday night, November 26, and targeted employees of LLC Shohin SM, a Chinese-linked company operating in the border region.
According to the ministry, the attackers used firearms as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying a grenade. All three victims were identified as Chinese citizens working for the company.
The ministry strongly condemned what it described as an “act of terrorist groups” and urged the Taliban authorities to take effective steps to ensure stability and security along the state border between the two neighboring countries.
“Despite the constant efforts by Tajikistan to maintain security and create an atmosphere of peace and stability in the border areas between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the disruptive actions by criminal groups located in the territory of Afghanistan still continue,” the ministry said.
The Taliban have not yet issued a response to the Tajik Foreign Ministry’s statement.
The attack came as a Taliban delegation was in Tajikistan for rare talks on border security. The group, led by Badakhshan governor Mohammad Ismail Ghaznavi, met officials from Tajikistan’s Badakhshan region to discuss cross-border issues, communication channels, and future cooperation.
Tajikistan has repeatedly voiced concern about threats emanating from its southern frontier since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Although relations between Dushanbe and the Taliban have historically been tense, the two sides have intensified diplomatic contacts in recent months.
In mid-November, senior Tajik diplomats and security officials travelled to Kabul for the first high-level talks since 2021. The Taliban said the talks covered bilateral cooperation, joint projects, and the status of Afghanistan’s embassy in Dushanbe, which remains staffed by diplomats appointed by the former government.
