A resident of Istaravshan was detained near the Tajik-Afghan border

A 22-year-old resident of Istaravshan has been detained near the Tajik-Afghan border. Officially, the security forces have not reported this, but a source close to the investigation told Radio Ozodi that the detainee was attempting to illegally cross into Afghanistan to join extremist groups.

Romiz Kamolov, a native of the village of Javkandak in the city of Istaravshan, was detained in May in Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. According to a source from the security forces, Romiz “intended to cross into Afghanistan along with several residents of Vanj.”

Currently, Romiz Kamolov is being held in a pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe, and a criminal case has been initiated against him for “organizing a criminal community” and “organizing the activities of an extremist organization.” His father, Sukhat Kamolov, declined to speak with the press.

Romiz’s parents divorced seven years ago, and the young man lived with his mother in the village of Kalachai Bakavul. Other relatives of the detainee also refrained from commenting. According to villagers, the last time they saw Romiz was on May 5, about a week before his detention in Khorog.

On the same day, the press center of the Border Troops of the State National Security Committee of Tajikistan reported that “strict control will be exercised over the stay, entry, and exit of citizens in the border area with Afghanistan.”

The State National Security Committee of Tajikistan explained the measures being taken as a response to “the trend of worsening situations in the region and the world,” as well as “attempts by terrorist and extremist organizations to illegally cross state borders and carry out terrorist acts in various parts of the planet, including the Republic of Tajikistan.”

Following this, in the second half of May, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan conducted an operation to detain over 30 residents of the Yazgulom jamoat in the Vanj district. The authorities have not provided official information on this matter; however, a source from Radio Ozodi familiar with the case materials reported that 25 detainees are accused of membership in the banned organization “Ansarulloh” and “were preparing to carry out a terrorist act in Tajikistan.”

Tajikistan has a lengthy border with Afghanistan, exceeding 1,000 kilometers. Dushanbe has stated that extremist groups have found refuge on the other side of the border, calling on Tajik citizens to join their ranks.