Secret negotiations between the Tajikistan government and the Taliban

The government of Tajikistan held secret negotiations with the Taliban regarding Tajik militants in Afghanistan.

According to the Swiss Institute for Global Issues (SIGA), after secret negotiations with the government of Tajikistan, the Taliban acted as negotiators with the group “Jamaat Ansarullo” at the request of Tajik authorities.

It is reported that negotiations between the government of Tajikistan and the Taliban took place at least twice in the last 4 months – the first meeting was held in December 2023, and the second in January 2024.

The organization “Jamaat Ansarullo” was established after the signing of the Peace Agreement in Tajikistan. The founder of the group, “Mullah Amriddin,” a field commander of opposition forces, did not recognize the peace agreement and went to Afghanistan, where he gathered an armed group. All members of the group are citizens of Tajikistan.

After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, “Jamaat Ansarullo” also maintained its positions. Moreover, the Taliban assigned the militants of “Ansarullo” to guard a number of facilities on the border with Tajikistan.

In Tajikistan, “Jamaat Ansarullo” is recognized as a terrorist organization, and the Supreme Court has banned any activities of the organization on the territory of the country.

However, the Taliban movement does not consider “Jamaat Ansarullo” a terrorist organization, which recently changed its name to “Tahrik-e Taliban Tajikistan” (Movement of the Taliban of Tajikistan).