Head of the GKNB Department in Khorog Killed. Is the Border Unstable?

According to the Press Center of the Border Detachment “Khorog” of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan, on April 28 at 1:30 AM, an armed group of transnational smugglers, consisting of 8 individuals, crossed from Afghanistan into the territory of Tajikistan.

It is reported that this group, “under the leadership of Dodikhudo, Nodirsho, and Zabi valadi Muhammadsakhi, residents of the village of Barpandj in the Shugnan district of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan, with the aim of transporting large quantities of drugs, as well as weapons and ammunition, crossed the state border line of Tajikistan and Afghanistan at the 184th mark of the protected zone of the 9th border post ‘Tishor’ of the Border Detachment ‘Khorog’.

A shootout ensued between this group and the border guards. Some of the smugglers fled back towards Afghanistan.

“At the scene, 3 accomplices of the Afghan smugglers were detained, citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan: Domullojonov Emin Amirovich, born in 1982, a native and resident of the city of Buston in the Sughd region; Saidmanzarov Nido Saifulloevich, born in 1993, a native and resident of the village of Yomchi in the Shugnan district, a resident of the city of Khujand; and Saidmursalov Navras Saidmusoevich, born in 1987, a native and resident of the Shugnan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region,” the report states.

At the scene, “45 kg of heroin, 1 Kalashnikov assault rifle with 4 magazines, 74 cartridges, 1 night vision device, and 10 thousand US dollars” were found and seized.

The report notes that “during the armed shootout with the Afghan smugglers, one serviceman was killed.” The name or rank of the deceased is not disclosed.

Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, reported that the head of the GKNB department in Khorog, Komron Rajabzoda, was killed in the armed clash at the border with Afghanistan.

Journalist Rustami Joni, who monitors and covers events in GBAO, recently wrote on his Facebook page: “Other sources reported that the head of the GKNB in Khorog was killed during a dispute with colleagues.”