Over the past two weeks there have already been several cases of Afghan soldiers being forced to move to Tajik territory
More than 1,000 Afghan troops have withdrawn to Tajikistan after clashes with supporters of the radical Taliban movement (banned in Russia). This was stated in a statement issued by the Press Centre of the Border Troops of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security on Monday, published on the website of the Khovar state news agency.
“During armed clashes with Taliban, 1,037 Afghan government troops retreated through the border areas of Shohon Sh. of Shohi district (104 personnel), Ruzvay (213 personnel) and Nulvand (83 personnel) of Darwaz district, Khumrogi of Vanj district (173 personnel), Teme district of Khorog (312 individuals), Ishkashim (102 individuals) and Langar (50 individuals) of Ishkashim District to the Republic of Tajikistan”, – the press release states.
The press centre notes that, based on the principle of good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, the Afghan military was allowed to move into the territory of Tajikistan. “At present, the situation in these border areas is under the control of Tajik border guards,” the State Committee on National Security assured.
Over the past two weeks, there have already been several cases of Afghan soldiers being forced to cross into Tajik territory. The escalating situation on the border between the two countries was the focus of a telephone conversation between Tajik and Afghan presidents Emomali Rahmon and Muhammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday. In this context, the Tajik leader informed his Afghan counterpart of new cases of forced crossing of the common border by the Afghan military. According to the press service, the conversation emphasised Tajikistan’s “unchanged position on the problem of Afghanistan, which is non-interference in its internal affairs and comprehensive support for the efforts of official authorities to establish peace, stability and security in the country”.
Earlier, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said the situation in northern Afghanistan was worsening and caused serious concern for the organisation. Tajikistan needs help in securing its southern border, he said. On July 1, the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a statement of concern over the situation in Afghanistan and called on all political forces of the country to promote the peace process.