Tajikistan’s foreign minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, said the country’s security institutions are cooperating with the Taliban to prevent tensions along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border.
Muhriddin said Tajikistan has resumed operations at border markets with Afghanistan and continues to supply electricity to the country.
Speaking about bilateral relations, he said Dushanbe engages with the Taliban in line with its national interests.
“Every independent country has the right to pursue policies based on its national interests,” Muhriddin said, adding that many countries particularly those bordering Afghanistan have also shaped their engagement with the country according to their own priorities.
He said trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan has increased, with total economic exchanges exceeding $110 million last year.
Muhriddin called on the international community not to abandon Afghanistan as it faces complex social and economic challenges.
The foreign minister also addressed recent armed incidents along the border, saying security and law-enforcement agencies from both sides are working together to prevent similar events.
According to Muhriddin, the Taliban have assured Tajikistan they will take necessary measures to prevent future incidents and conduct thorough investigations into border-related violence.
Recently, Tajik security forces said they prevented five Afghan smugglers from illegally crossing into Tajikistan. Three were killed in an armed clash and two others fled back into Afghanistan, officials said.
Earlier, in two separate attacks launched from Afghan territory into Tajik border areas on November 26 and November 30 last year, five Chinese citizens were killed and five others were wounded.
Tajikistan condemned those attacks and called on the Taliban to arrest those responsible.
