Tajikistan has begun discussions with Russia on a possible joint deployment of Russian troops along its 1,344-kilometre border with Afghanistan, following last week’s deadly cross-border attacks in which five Chinese citizens were killed and five others injured. The proposal, raised after a sharp deterioration in the security situation, is now under active consideration by both governments and Moscow-led regional security partners.
According to Reuters, senior officials from Tajik security institutions confirmed that Dushanbe has initiated talks with Russia and the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) on arrangements for joint border monitoring. The discussions come after attacks launched from the Afghan side of the frontier, prompting Tajikistan to reassess its border security posture.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reviewed the situation with his security leadership on Monday as Beijing instructed its citizens — particularly those engaged in mining and commercial activities — to leave the border regions immediately. A senior official of Tajikistan’s Security Council told Reuters that the government is exploring the possibility of Russian units stationed at the country’s major Russian military base near Dushanbe participating in joint patrols along the frontier. This installation is the largest Russian military facility outside Russia.
Officials said talks were progressing and that a decision could be reached within the week. Two additional sources from Tajikistan’s National Security Committee also confirmed ongoing negotiations, adding that, if agreed, Russia would support border monitoring operations with helicopter surveillance across the rugged stretch of frontier.
Both the Tajik and Russian defence ministries declined to comment, while the CSTO has yet to issue a formal response. Taliban authorities, for their part, have stated that they will cooperate with Tajikistan on border security.
Until the early 2000s, Russian troops and border guards monitored the Tajik-Afghan border before the responsibility was transferred to Tajikistan in 2005.
