Tajikistan, Russia Discuss Joint Patrols Along Afghan Border

Tajikistan is exploring the possibility of joint border patrols with Russia along the volatile Tajik-Afghan border.

The move comes after attacks from Afghanistan killed five Chinese citizens and wounded five more over the past week, The Caspian Post reports via Pakistani news website.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon recently held meetings with his security chiefs, and China has advised its nationals to urgently leave the border area.

One source from the Tajik Security Council said, “We are currently in talks. I think a decision will be made … this week,” confirming discussions with Russia about deploying forces from its largest overseas military base near Dushanbe. Two other sources from the State Committee for National Security added that, if agreed, Russia could also use helicopters to patrol the 1,344-kilometre mountainous border.

Tajik and Russian defence ministries declined to comment, and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation did not immediately respond.

Meanwhile, Afghan authorities have expressed readiness to cooperate. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told his Tajik counterpart that “joint measures against malicious elements are a pressing necessity” and the Islamic Emirate is “fully prepared to strengthen border security, conduct joint investigations, and engage in any form of coordination.” He emphasized that “an atmosphere of trust” between the two countries should not be undermined.

Historically, Russian forces and the base in Tajikistan guarded the Afghan border until 2005, after which Tajikistan assumed independent control of the frontier.