New armed clash on the border with Afghanistan

According to state media, an armed clash occurred on the Tajik-Afghan border on the night of Sunday, January 18.

The press center of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan reports that on January 18, 2026, four members of a terrorist organization crossed the state border from Afghanistan and infiltrated Tajikistan.

As a result of urgent operational-search measures taken, their location on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan was established. According to the border service, the terrorists infiltrated from the area of the 7th border post “Khirmandjo” of the “Yol” border detachment, located in the Shamsiddin Shohin area from the village of Darbandak in the Khoun Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.

The terrorists did not comply with the border guards’ orders to surrender and offered armed resistance. During the hostilities, all four terrorists were neutralized, reports the GKNB.

From the scene, 3 units of firearms, including Kalashnikov rifles, 1 “Kruz” rifle, 6 magazines, 183 cartridges for AKs and pistols, 3 mobile phones, 1 radio, and 1 boat were seized.

A criminal case has been initiated regarding this incident under articles 179 (Terrorism), 335 (Illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Tajikistan), and 195 (Illegal acquisition, transfer to another’s ownership, storage, transportation, carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan, and an investigation is underway.

The border authorities of the GKNB emphasize that the situation at the state border is fully under control, and the relevant structures will continue to use all legally provided forces and means to ensure the country’s security.

It should be noted that this is the second attempt in the last month of illegal border crossing by armed individuals. Previously, authorities had repeatedly warned about the increasing terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

It is worth mentioning that since the beginning of December to the present, three armed attacks have been carried out from the territory of Afghanistan in the Shamsiddin Shohin and Darvoz areas, resulting in the deaths of ten Chinese citizens, with several others injured. According to sources, some of the deceased worked in gold mining companies in the former Shurobod area, while others were engaged in road construction projects in the Darvoz district.