Border Clash Erupts Near Tajikistan-Afghanistan Gold Mining Area

A reported armed clash has erupted between Tajik border guards and Taliban forces along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, near the Shamsiddin-Shohin district in Tajikistan and Shahr-e Buzurg in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province.

According to preliminary accounts, the confrontation occurred near a gold mining area where several foreign, including Chinese, companies operate - raising potential geopolitical concerns, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The incident is believed to have been triggered by recent shifts in the Panj River’s (Amu Darya) course, a natural border between the two nations that has previously sparked disputes.

While local sources claim there were casualties, neither the number nor the affected side has been confirmed. Tajik officials have not issued an official statement, and attempts by journalists to reach the Border Guard Directorate have been unsuccessful.

The Kabul Tribune adds that the fighting began around 3 p.m. (GMT+5) and lasted for roughly an hour, allegedly after Tajik forces responded to the river’s redirection toward their side of the border. Taliban units stationed nearby reportedly returned fire.

Following the incident, both sides reportedly held talks to de-escalate tensions. Tajik representatives emphasized that the Amu River should maintain its natural flow, while Taliban officials, including Badakhshan’s new governor, Ismail Ghaznavi, convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation.

Neither the Taliban nor the Chinese companies operating in the area have commented publicly on the reported border clash.