Web Desk (MNN); Tajikistan has confirmed that three armed men who illegally crossed its border from Afghanistan were killed during a clash with border security forces, while two Tajik servicemen also lost their lives, prompting Dushanbe to demand an apology and stricter border control measures from the Afghan Taliban authorities.
According to Tajik officials, the incident began late on December 23 when three suspected militants entered Tajik territory from Afghanistan near Border Outpost No. 5 in the Qavoq area of Shamsiddin Shohin district.
The Tajik state news agency reported that border forces launched a search operation and tracked down the group the following morning. The State Committee for National Security said the infiltrators ignored repeated calls to surrender and opened fire, leading to an armed confrontation.
âAll three infiltrators were neutralised during the operation,â the committee said, adding that the suspects were planning an attack on a military outpost.
A large cache of weapons was recovered from the scene, including an M-16 rifle, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, pistols equipped with suppressors, hand grenades, a night-vision device and explosive materials.
Two members of the Tajik border force were killed in the exchange of fire. They were identified as Navruzbekov Zirehbon Naghzibekovich and Qurbonov Ismatullo Ghulomovich.
Tajik authorities strongly condemned the incident, calling it a terrorist act and holding the Taliban government in Afghanistan responsible for failing to prevent cross-border militant activity.
Officials said this was the third such incident along the Tajik-Afghan border in the past month, resulting in casualties among both civilians and security personnel.
In an official statement, Tajikistan said the repeated incidents reflected Kabulâs failure to fulfil its international obligations and assurances regarding border security and counterterrorism.
Dushanbe has formally urged the Taliban leadership to issue an apology to the people of Tajikistan and to take immediate and effective steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. Afghan media reported that the Taliban authorities had not issued any official response as of Wednesday.
