Tajikistan, Russia in Advanced Talks on Joint Afghan Border Patrols Amid Rising Regional Tensions

DUSHANBE/MOSCOW – Tajikistan is in advanced discussions with Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) regarding the potential deployment of Russian troops to jointly patrol its volatile border with Afghanistan, multiple sources have confirmed to Reuters. This development follows a deadly series of attacks that have heightened regional security concerns.

The talks, described by insiders as “active and urgent,” focus on re-establishing a formal Russian security presence along the 1,344-kilometre (835-mile) mountainous frontier—a role Moscow relinquished to Tajikistan in 2005.

Heightened Security Crisis

The negotiations gain urgency after a violent week near the Tajik-Afghan border, where five Chinese nationals were killed and five others injured in targeted attacks. In response, the Chinese embassy in Dushanbe issued an urgent security alert, strongly advising all Chinese citizens and organizations involved in mining and commercial projects near the border to evacuate the area immediately.

“We are currently in talks. I think a decision will be made this week,” a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

Two additional sources within Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security confirmed the negotiations. They indicated that, pending a successful agreement, Russia would provide helicopter units and advanced surveillance assets to bolster patrols across the difficult terrain, where militant infiltration remains a persistent threat.

Both the Tajik and Russian ministries of defence have declined to comment on the ongoing talks.

A Return to Historical Security Arrangements

A potential agreement would mark a significant shift in Central Asian security. From the collapse of the Soviet Union until the early 2000s, Russian border guards, under the auspices of the Federal Security Service (FSB), were directly responsible for securing the Tajik-Afghan frontier. This presence was a cornerstone of Russia’s security architecture in post-Soviet Central Asia. Tajikistan assumed full control in 2005, but persistent instability in Afghanistan has periodically fueled discussions about renewed Russian support.

Diplomatic Maneuvers Amid Tensions

The security talks coincide with high-level diplomacy between Dushanbe and Kabul. On Tuesday, Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held a telephone conversation with his Tajik counterpart, Sirajuddin Mehruddin.

According to statements from both sides, the ministers discussed a broad agenda, including political relations, economic cooperation, border management, security coordination, and regional initiatives.

Significantly, Muttaqi condemned the recent attacks on Chinese nationals in Tajikistan, asserting that “certain groups” were attempting to damage the positive relationship between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Mehruddin responded that Tajikistan seeks constructive engagement with Kabul’s Taliban-led government and rejected what he termed efforts by “biased groups” to undermine ties between the neighboring nations.

Regional Security Implications

The potential reintroduction of Russian troops to the Tajik-Afghan border underscores escalating concerns among regional powers regarding the threat of spillover instability from Afghanistan. It also highlights Tajikistan’s delicate balancing act: maintaining direct dialogue with the Taliban-led government in Kabul while seeking reinforced security guarantees from its traditional ally, Moscow, and the CSTO.

A decision, expected imminently, would significantly alter the regional security landscape, potentially marking the most substantial return of Russian military forces to a frontline border role in Central Asia in nearly two decades. Observers note that such a move would also carry implications for China’s significant economic interests and security concerns in the region.

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