An armed clash with smugglers has occurred on the Tajik-Afghan border.

The Tajik State Committee for National Security said the incident took place on January 29 at around 7:30 p.m. (GMT+5), when five Afghan nationals illegally crossed the state border in the area of the Bahorak border outpost in Shamsiddin Shohin District, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

After border guards identified the route used by the intruders and attempted to detain them, the group reportedly opened fire and tried to retreat back toward Afghanistan. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, three of the violators were neutralized at the scene.

Tajik authorities identified the deceased as Jovid valadi Davlatmand, Rashid valadi Davlatmand, and Sobir valadi Zohir - all residents of Takhar Province. Two other individuals managed to flee under the cover of darkness.

During a search of the area, border guards recovered three Kalashnikov assault rifles with magazines, 150 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, a large number of spent shell casings, four sacks containing 73 packages of narcotics - including hashish and opium - as well as a boat used to cross the Panj River.

The Border Troops said all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the security of the state border. An investigation is underway, and the situation remains under control.