Tajikistan, Russia discuss joint patrol along Afghan border

KABUL (Pajhwok): Tajikistan is in discussions with Russia and a Moscow-led regional security bloc on the possible deployment of Russian troops to jointly patrol the volatile border with Afghanistan, Reuters reports.

Over the past week, five Chinese nationals have been killed and five others injured near the Tajik–Afghan border.

Following the incidents, Beijing urged its citizens working in mining and commercial projects near the frontier to leave the area immediately.

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

Two additional sources from Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security confirmed the discussions with Russia, adding that if negotiations succeed, Moscow would use helicopters to help patrol the 1,344-kilometre (835-mile) mountainous border with Afghanistan.

The Tajik and Russian ministries of defence declined to comment on the talks.

Until the early 2000s, Russian forces stationed in Tajikistan were responsible for guarding the Afghan border. Tajikistan has handled border security independently since 2005.

Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held a telephone conversation with his Tajik counterpart, Sirajuddin Mehruddin, on Tuesday.

The two discussed political relations, economic cooperation, border issues, security coordination, and regional initiatives.

Muttaqi condemned the recent killing and wounding of Chinese nationals in Tajikistan, saying certain groups were attempting to harm the positive relations between the two countries.

For his part, Mehruddin said Tajikistan sought constructive engagement with the Afghan government and rejected efforts by “biased groups” to undermine ties between the neighbouring nations.

kk/sa