Fresh Attack on Chinese Nationals at Afghanistan–Tajikistan Border

DID Press: Two Chinese citizens have come under armed attack along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan frontier—an incident in which Taliban border forces were allegedly involved, reported local sources in Badakhshan province. The attack occurred only days after three other Chinese nationals were killed in a drone strike launched from Afghan territory.

According to the sources, on Sunday evening, 29 November, two Chinese nationals were shot at in the Shadak border area of Tajikistan. The attack was carried out from Razavi village in Maimay district of Badakhshan. Sources say Taliban border forces recently deployed to Maimay appear to have played a role.

Informed sources said the two Chinese nationals were working on road-construction projects in the area, and the assailants used light weapons in the attack.

The foreign ministries of China, Tajikistan and the Taliban authorities have not yet issued official statements on the incident.

This is the second attack on Chinese nationals this week. Last Wednesday, three Chinese citizens were killed in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province in an assault launched from Afghanistan soil. Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry said the attackers used firearms and a drone armed with grenades to strike the worksite of the Shaheen SM gold-mining company.

On Friday, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry condemned the killing of the Chinese nationals on the Tajik border, saying that initial assessments by relevant agencies indicated the attack was carried out by groups seeking to create chaos, instability and distrust among countries in the region.

The rise in attacks targeting Chinese citizens along Afghanistan’s northern borders has heightened security concerns over border control, the activities of armed groups, and the level of security coordination among Kabul, Dushanbe and Beijing.