5 were killed in two cross-border attacks from Afghanistan during the past week

Agencies – Almaty:

Tajikistan’s presidential press office said five people were killed and five others wounded in two attacks launched from neighboring Afghanistan over the past week.

Relations are marred by tension between Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic with a population of about 11 million people and subject to secular rule, and the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.

Tajik authorities said last week that three Chinese nationals were killed in a drone attack launched from Afghanistan. Tajik authorities have previously warned of drug traffickers and illegal gold miners operating on the remote border.

The press office of the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, said that the president met with senior officials of the security services to discuss the situation and ways to strengthen border security.

The office added that Rahman “strongly condemned the illegal and provocative actions committed by Afghan citizens and ordered effective measures to be taken to resolve the problem and prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”

There has been no response yet from the authorities in Afghanistan to a request for comment on Tajikistan’s statement.