During the conversation, Muttaqi noted that there has been increasing trust between Kabul and Dushanbe in various areas lately; however, there are forces seeking to undermine this interaction. He emphasized the importance of joint efforts to ensure stability in the region and confirmed Afghanistan's readiness to enhance border security and conduct joint investigations. Muttaqi expressed his intention to coordinate this work across all aspects.
Sirojiddin Muhriddin, for his part, highlighted Dushanbe's commitment to positive cooperation with the Afghan authorities. He condemned the actions of "biased groups" attempting to harm bilateral relations.
The ministers agreed on the necessity of regular contacts between the border services of the two countries and agreed to establish joint committees for cooperation in the field of security.
The negotiations were prompted by incidents at the Tajik-Afghan border, which resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens. In the first case, which occurred on November 26, three employees of a mining company were victims of a drone strike, and in the second case, on November 30, two workers of a road construction firm were killed as a result of shelling from Afghan territory.
On the evening of November 30, the Chinese ambassador to Tajikistan, Go Zhijun, held urgent talks with the head of the Tajik Foreign Ministry and the deputy chairman of the State Committee for National Security, calling for enhanced protection of Chinese citizens and businesses. On December 1, the Chinese embassy recommended through WeChat that its companies, especially in the gold mining sector, promptly evacuate personnel from dangerous areas and advised citizens to leave border regions.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon condemned the attacks from the Afghan side and instructed the responsible authorities to take necessary measures to resolve the situation. In response, Afghan officials representing the Taliban also condemned the attacks, calling them provocations, and expressed their readiness for a joint investigation.
