Tajikistan Seeks Stronger Cooperation With Afghanistan on Border Management
Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, said at a recent press conference that the country’s relevant institutions are in contact with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regarding border-related issues, and that the Islamic Emirate has pledged that recent incidents along the shared border will be reviewed fairly.
Muhriddin also noted that Tajikistan’s efforts to draw the international community’s attention to the situation in Afghanistan, as well as to support peace and the country’s economic and social development, are ongoing.
He said: “Efforts to attract the international community’s attention to the situation in Afghanistan in order to promote peace and economic and social development have continued.”
A number of political analysts and diplomats believe that improving political, economic, and diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Tajikistan would benefit both countries.
Aziz Ahmad Bariz, a former diplomat to Tajikistan, said: “Discussions on security and joint trade cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asian countries are very important. Over the past four and a half years, Central Asian countries have made efforts to achieve success in trade and border security.”
Ruhullah Hotak, a political analyst, said: “Ensuring security and managing borders bring mutual benefits: for Tajikistan, it means reducing direct threats from smuggling and the activities of groups such as ISIS-K, as well as protecting economic projects like mines and road networks linked to China; for Afghanistan, it helps prevent further tensions, improves access to trade and energy, and strengthens regional legitimacy.”
Meanwhile, earlier this solar year, a high-level Tajik delegation, including a special envoy, senior Foreign Ministry officials, security officials, and other key representatives visited Kabul for the first time and held meetings with officials of the Islamic Emirate, contributing to improved relations between the two countries.
