Tajikistan (Monitoring Desk): Central Asian country Tajikistan has claimed that its security forces killed four suspected terrorists during an operation after they crossed the border from Afghanistan, prompting further tightening of security in border areas.
According to Tajik authorities, the operation was carried out in the southern Khatlon province when the armed individuals refused to surrender despite being surrounded. The state news agency reported that the security forces neutralized the suspects during the operation conducted on Sunday.
Tajikistan shares a long and rugged mountainous border with Afghanistan, where a noticeable increase in violent incidents has been observed in recent months. Officials say that since November, at least five deadly incidents have occurred in border regions.
Official figures indicate that a total of 16 people have been killed in these clashes, including Tajik border guards, Chinese nationals, and individuals described by authorities as smugglers or terrorists.
Following attacks on Chinese citizens in November, the Tajik government had urged Afghan Taliban authorities to take effective measures to prevent instability along border areas. Tajikistan maintains that the activities of drug traffickers and armed groups continue to pose a serious security threat to the region.
It is worth noting that in December as well, an armed clash along the Tajik–Afghan border resulted in the deaths of five people, including three suspected terrorists and two Tajik border guards. The Tajik government has also expressed concern over the presence of elements linked to ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan.
