IRIA News

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Three Chinese workers in Tajikistan were killed in a cross-border drone attack launched from Afghanistan, Tajikistan’s government said on November 26, 2025. The strike targeted a camp housing employees of the company LLC Shahin SM in the southwestern Khatlon region.

According to the Tajikistan Foreign Ministry statement, the attack was conducted from Afghanistan on Wednesday night. Tajik authorities condemned “these acts of terrorist groups” and called on Afghan authorities to stabilize and secure their side of the frontier.

“This attack was carried out using an unmanned aerial vehicle” carrying explosives, the ministry said. It added that “despite the constant efforts by Tajikistan to maintain security and create an atmosphere of peace and stability in the border areas between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the disruptive actions by criminal groups located in the territory of Afghanistan continue.”

China confirmed that three of its citizens were killed and another was injured. The Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe urged Chinese nationals to avoid operating in the Tajik-Afghan border area and advised those already in the region to “evacuate as soon as possible.”

It also requested that Tajikistan conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure accountability and prevent further attacks.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the cross-border strike. Deputy spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal said preliminary findings suggested that “this incident involves elements that are trying to create chaos, instability, and distrust between countries in the region.”

Kabul said it was ready to fully cooperate with Tajikistan through “information exchange, technical cooperation, and joint assessment to find the causes of the incident.”

Growing Instability Along the Tajik-Afghan Border

Chinese workers are involved in a range of mining and construction projects across Tajikistan, including in remote border districts where security incidents are not uncommon. The targeted compound was linked to gold-extraction operations in the Shamsiddin Shohin district, a rugged border region where several armed groups and smuggling networks operate.

Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry reported that the attackers used both firearms and a drone equipped with an explosive device to strike the workers’ facility. “As a result of the attack, three employees of Shohin SM, all Chinese citizens, were killed,” the statement said.

The attack follows several recent security incidents along the frontier. A week earlier, Tajik authorities reported using a drone to kill two suspected drug smugglers entering from Afghanistan.

In August, Tajik border guards exchanged fire with fighters from Afghanistan’s Taliban movement. The border has long been a hotspot for clashes involving militant groups, criminal networks, and state security forces.

This latest incident is the second deadly attack on Chinese nationals in the area in a year. In November last year, armed groups attacked the same sector, killing one Chinese citizen and injuring five others.

Tajik officials have repeatedly warned about the presence of extremist factions and armed criminal gangs inside Afghanistan, including groups linked to Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Central Asian militant networks.

Tajikistan has been wary of the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. Dushanbe publicly opposed the Taliban’s takeover, arguing that it threatened regional stability. Despite this, both sides have attempted to maintain limited cooperation to reduce tensions.

Markets in border areas reopened in 2023, and a Tajik delegation visited Kabul earlier this month as part of efforts to improve dialogue.

Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said that a delegation led by the governor of Badakhshan province and a senior Taliban border commander visited Tajikistan on November 27 to discuss cooperation and cross-border coordination. Tajikistan has not publicly commented on the visit.

The drone attack came just hours before a scheduled meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Leaders and senior officials from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan gathered for the summit, where regional security was a central topic.

Tajikistan has repeatedly asked the Russia-led alliance to provide greater support for securing its long and difficult border with Afghanistan.

The incident also raised concerns in Beijing, which has expanded its economic footprint in Central Asia through major infrastructure and mining projects. China views insecurity along the Tajik-Afghan border as a rising threat to its Belt and Road investments and to the safety of its citizens working abroad.

Analysts say the use of a drone signifies an escalation in the tactics used by armed groups in the region. The attack highlights growing vulnerabilities along the frontier and the challenges both Tajikistan and Afghanistan face in controlling remote border territories.

Implications on China, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan Relations

Beijing is expected to press Tajikistan for a detailed investigation and may review security standards for Chinese workers in the region. Tajikistan is likely to increase drone surveillance, military patrols, and intelligence operations along the frontier.

Afghanistan’s administration is expected to face renewed pressure to prevent groups operating from its territory from launching cross-border attacks. Kabul has emphasized its willingness to cooperate and has condemned attempts to destabilize regional relations.

Regional powers, including Russia and Central Asian states, are watching closely as instability along the Tajik-Afghan border threatens regional trade routes and broader security. The latest attack is expected to influence CSTO discussions and could accelerate plans for joint counterterrorism initiatives or expanded security cooperation across Central Asia.