Tajikistan asks for Russia’s help in guarding the border

Tajikistan is in talks with Russia and a Moscow-led regional security group over the possibility of Russia deploying troops to jointly patrol the volatile border with Afghanistan, three Tajik security sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Five Chinese citizens were killed and five wounded near the border last week as a result of attacks from Afghanistan.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon held talks with his security chiefs on Monday about the situation, and China advised its citizens, who are involved in various mining and business activities, to leave the border area urgently.

One of the three sources, in Tajikistan’s Security Council, told Reuters that authorities had held talks with Russia about the possibility of deploying forces from Moscow’s military base in the Central Asian country to jointly patrol the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.

The base is Russia’s largest military installation abroad and is located near Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.

“Right now we are in talks. I think a decision will be made — this week,” the source told Reuters.

Two of the other sources, in Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, confirmed the talks with Russia, which, if successful, would see Russia use helicopters to help patrol the 1,344km border with Afghanistan, which runs through mountainous terrain.

The defense ministries of Tajikistan and Russia declined to comment when asked about the talks.

The Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization alliance, which the sources said was also involved in the talks, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan said they would cooperate with Tajikistan on security issues around the border.

In communication with his Tajik counterpart, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed his regret and said Kabul was ready to strengthen coordination between border forces, adding that “joint measures against malicious elements are imperative.”

“The Islamic Emirate is fully prepared to strengthen border security, conduct joint investigations and participate in any form of coordination,” Muttaqi said, according to a statement from the Afghan foreign ministry. Reuters