Dushanbe and Moscow Concerned About Situation in Afghanistan

Russia and Tajikistan expressed concern over recent events in Afghanistan, as well as border security issues. This statement was made during the summit of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries on September 1, 2026, in Bishkek.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a conversation with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, stated that Moscow is aware of Dushanbe’s concerns regarding events in Afghanistan and that Russia is working closely with Tajikistan on security matters.

According to Putin, Russia is monitoring the situation in neighboring Afghanistan and issues related to regional security.

The press service of the President of Tajikistan also reported that during the conversation with the Russian President, they discussed “strengthening cooperation to ensure regional security and stability, including in combating the challenges and threats of the modern world.”

One of the main factors causing concern for Dushanbe in the security sphere is the unstable situation in northeastern Afghanistan, particularly near the border with Tajikistan. In August of this year, armed clashes occurred in the Nusay district of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, between Taliban forces and militants of field commander Jumakhon Foteh. As a result of the clashes, the Taliban deployed additional forces to the region, which caused concern among local residents.

As a result of these clashes, a bullet fired from Afghan territory landed on Tajik territory in the Darvaz district, resulting in the death of a 21-year-old Tajik citizen.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan sent a note of protest to the Afghan government, calling for an investigation into the incident and prevention of similar cases in the future.

In addition to the risk of conflict spreading to neighboring countries’ territories, regional countries are also concerned about other Afghanistan-related problems, including the activity of armed groups, terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, and border instability. These issues were also discussed at the SCO summit as important regional security topics.

The Tajik-Afghan border is approximately 1,400 kilometers long. Due to its geographical location, any instability in northern Afghanistan can directly affect the security of Tajikistan’s border regions.