Kabul, Afghanistan – The Taliban government in Afghanistan pledged on Tuesday to intensify security cooperation with Tajikistan following attacks that Dushanbe said originated from within Afghan territory.
It resulted in the death of five Chinese workers and injuries to others during the past week.
The Taliban’s position came during a telephone call
between Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Tajik counterpart.
Kabul expressed its regret over the incident and affirmed that it condemns
the attacks and considers them a threat to the security of the entire region.
Use a drone
Muttaqi said, according to Reuters, that “the Taliban are ready to take joint
action against elements that target the security of neighboring countries.”
He pointed to the importance of strengthening border security,
exchanging information, and activating mechanisms
for security coordination between the two sides.
In contrast, Tajik authorities announced that the attacks,
which struck a remote border area, involved the use of a drone.
Bombs were dropped on a site where Chinese workers were involved
in investment projects near the border with Afghanistan.
She explained that the attacks resulted in the death of five Chinese citizens
and injuries to several others, in an incident that raised concerns in Beijing.
Which called on its citizens to leave the border area immediately for their safety.
Prevent recurring attacks
For its part, the Tajik leadership ordered an increase in the level of alert
and tightened military control along the border with Afghanistan.
This is an attempt to prevent a recurrence of attacks
and to secure the mountainous areas that are most vulnerable to armed activities.
These developments come at a time when the Taliban are trying
to improve their security image in the eyes of neighboring countries.
Especially with the increasing Chinese investments in the region,
which require a stable environment to protect workers and projects.
Observers believe that the Taliban’s pledge of cooperation constitutes
a real test of its ability to control the border.
And to prevent the activity of groups operating in the rugged areas between the two countries.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding who was responsible for the attacks,
the event has once again highlighted the fragile security situation on the Afghan-Tajik border.
On the need for greater coordination between the two sides to confront cross-border threats.
