KABUL: Tajik border guards have killed at least three armed Afghan smugglers after a group crossed into Tajikistan from Afghanistan’s northeastern Takhar province, according to local sources cited by Afghanistan International.
The incident occurred in a forested area along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border after seven armed men entered Tajik territory through difficult border routes in Takhar’s Chah Ab district late on Tuesday night.
According to Afghanistan International, local sources said Tajik security forces identified the group’s route, surrounded the men inside a forest and opened fire.
Three members of the group were killed, while the whereabouts of the remaining four remain unknown.
Drug trafficking and arms smuggling
A local source in Chah Ab district told the media that all three people killed were residents of the district and were involved in smuggling activities.
The source said the group was armed and had crossed into Tajikistan before being intercepted by border security personnel.
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The border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan’s northeastern provinces, particularly Takhar and Badakhshan, has long been associated with drug trafficking, arms smuggling and unauthorised crossings.
Tajikistan has intensified border security measures in recent months, including increased night patrols and the construction of additional security posts.
Tajik authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about the movement of armed individuals and suspected smugglers along the frontier.
The reported incident highlights continuing security challenges along the mountainous border, where difficult terrain and remote crossing routes complicate efforts to monitor cross-border movements.
