China, Tajikistan Boost Military Cooperation over Security Concerns

DID Press: Following recent attacks targeting Chinese personnel in Tajikistan, the two countries have decided to strengthen their security and military cooperation to counter border threats.

The attacks, carried out from Afghan territory, resulted in at least five deaths, including Chinese citizens, raising concerns about the security of Tajikistan’s borders.

The assaults involved drones and firearms, and experts view them as an indication of increasingly complex threats to China’s economic and security interests in Central Asia.

In response, the Tajik government has requested enhanced border patrols, increased deployment of security forces, and aerial surveillance in sensitive areas near the Afghan and Chinese borders.

Analysts at the Institute for Strategic Studies of the East argue that the Taliban’s weakness in northern Afghanistan, internal crises, and intra-group conflicts have created conditions for increased attacks against Chinese nationals and companies.

Additionally, activities by proxy and armed Islamist groups, such as ISIS-Khorasan, could have played a role in these attacks.

No group has claimed responsibility for the recent incidents, and this uncertainty could further exacerbate insecurity and instability along the Tajik-Afghan border.

In light of the situation, China and Tajikistan have decided to expand military and security cooperation to control new threats and ensure border safety and the protection of economic investments.

Experts warn that continued tensions could impact trade and investment in Central Asia and threaten the region’s economic and security stability.

The increased Chinese military presence in Tajikistan and the deepening security collaboration may have broader geopolitical implications and could intensify the regional power competition in Central Asia.