Tajikistan expressed serious concern and lodged a formal protest with the Afghan Taliban authorities after a cross-border drone attack launched from Afghan territory killed three Chinese employees working in the country, in what officials described as a worrying escalation in regional security threats.
According to an APP report, terrorist groups operating from inside Afghanistan continue to carry out destabilising actions despite repeated assurances by the Afghan Taliban regime that no neighbouring country would be targeted from its soil. Regional observers described the incident as yet another reminder that promises made in Kabul have not translated into effective counterterrorism measures on the ground.
Tajik officials said the attack took place late on the night of 26 November 2025, when an armed drone crossed into Tajik territory and targeted a camp belonging to LLC Shohin SM. The facility was located in the Khatlón region under the operational area of the Yo‘l border detachment’s First Border Guard Post “Istiqlol”. Officials confirmed that the drone was equipped with explosive projectiles and small arms.
The strike resulted in the deaths of three Chinese nationals employed by the company, prompting immediate concern in Dushanbe not only over security gaps along the border but also over the growing pattern of Afghanistan-based militant groups using sophisticated weapons for cross-border attacks.
Tajik authorities condemned the incident in the strongest terms and demanded that the Afghan Taliban take “immediate and effective measures” to prevent their territory from being used for terrorist operations. They also expressed deep alarm over the ability of non-state actors inside Afghanistan to deploy drone technology an emerging threat that regional governments fear could aggravate instability across Central and South Asia.
Security analysts noted that the attack carries broader implications, given China’s expanding economic footprint in the region and its increasing engagement with both Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The incident may also strain Kabul’s already fragile relations with neighbouring states, many of whom have repeatedly urged the Taliban to eliminate cross-border militant sanctuaries.
Officials in Dushanbe said an investigation has been launched, while diplomatic engagement with Kabul continues. Regional monitoring has also been intensified amid concerns that similar attacks could trigger a wider security challenge for bordering nations.
