Three Chinese citizens were killed and another injured in Tajikistan on Wednesday evening in a deadly attack near the country’s border with Afghanistan, China’s embassy in Dushanbe confirmed on Friday. The victims were workers of a Chinese company in the southwestern Khatlon province, a region close to Afghanistan.
The attack involved both firearms and a drone carrying grenades, authorities said. China has called on Tajikistan to investigate the incident but did not specify who was behind the assault.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan condemned the attack, describing it as a “heinous terrorist attack” and emphasizing that the use of armed drones highlighted the “gravity of the threat emanating from Afghanistan and the brazenness of those behind it.” Pakistan extended condolences to China and Tajikistan, stressing the regional security risks posed by terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.
Tajik authorities also confirmed the deaths but did not provide details on the perpetrators. The incident underscores growing concerns in Tajikistan about potential extremism and violence spilling over from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Denmark, in its role as chair of the UN Security Council ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, recently highlighted the threat posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Central and South Asia, noting that the group receives “logistical and substantial support” from Afghan authorities.
Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, who has openly criticized the Taliban, continues to urge the group to respect the rights of ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working with China, Tajikistan, and regional partners to maintain peace and security in the neighborhood.
