China Demands Tighter Security in Tajikistan After Attacks

China has called on Tajikistan to immediately strengthen protection for Chinese citizens and companies following a series of deadly armed attacks near the Afghan border.

Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Guo Zhijun held urgent phone talks with Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin and senior security official Farhod Kamolzoda after two attacks targeting Chinese workers left five dead and five injured over the past week, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

Tajik officials strongly condemned the incidents, expressed solidarity with Beijing, and pledged to ramp up security measures to safeguard Chinese nationals and facilities.

The most recent attack occurred on November 30 in Darvoz district, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), when an armed group crossed from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan Province and opened fire on employees of China Road and Bridge Corporation. Two workers were killed and two injured.

A similar assault took place on November 26 in Shamsiddin-Shohin district of Khatlon Province, where attackers from Afghan territory targeted staff of the Chinese company Shohin-SM, killing three and injuring one.

Tajik border authorities said that despite ongoing efforts to stabilize the frontier, criminal groups continue attempts to provoke instability. The government urged Afghan officials to act decisively to prevent further cross-border attacks.

On December 1, President Emomali Rahmon convened an emergency meeting with security chiefs, condemning the “provocative” actions from Afghan territory and ordering tighter border controls.