The Main Border Directorate at the State Committee for Nationals Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan has released a statement in response to two Afghan officials who claimed on November 9 that Tajik border guards “have started killing innocent Afghans in quest for medals from their government.” A statement, in particular says that those accusations have been woven by their sick imagination.
The statement says that all those accusations are slanderous and do not correspond to the facts. “The accusations cause (mistrust) enmity between the peoples.” the statement says.
Tajik border service also notes that border representatives of both countries hold meetings on each border incident to discuss and settle it.
On the November 5 incident, Tajik border service says two Afghan nationals – Jumakhon waladi Askar, 22, and Askar waladi Mushki, 43 – illegally crossed the border river (in the Ishkashim district of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). As a result of skirmish, one of the trespassers, Jumakhon waladi Askar, was wounded and they were forced to retreat. Jumakhon waladi Askar reportedly managed to swim across the river and was taken to a hospital in Sulton Ishkashim (Afghan Badakhshan), where he died of blood loss. His father, Askar waladi Mushki, drowned in the river and his body was found next day (November 6) on the Afghan bank of the Panj River. Two sacks of narcotic drug that tested positive to hashish weighing 15 kilograms were found on the spot on November 6, according to the statement.
The statement also notes that the current situation along the Tajik-Afghan border is stable.
Recall, Afghan news agency Pajhwok Afghan News, commander of the border police seventh brigade Mohammad Aman Naseem, reported on November 9 that two Afghan civilians have been killed by the Tajikistan border security forces in northeastern Badakhshan Province.
Mohammad Aman Naseem told Pajhwok Afghan News Tajik forces had killed two Afghan civilians of the Yakhdro village in the Ishkashim district.
“One body drowned in water and one was found in the Panj Seand area,” he was quoted as saying.
Naseem said Tajik security forces had allegedly been asked about the reason and explanation regarding the killing of two civilians but they have not yet responded.
Meanwhile, Talibuddin Qaderi, the member the Provincial Council (Afghan Badakhshan Province), was cited as saying Tajik forces have continued killing Afghan civilians in Wakhan and Ishkashim district over the past few years.
He reportedly said one civilian was killed in the Kovi area of Wakhan district one and a half month ago.
“The Tajik intelligence have promised their retired officers to be conferred with medals if they capture or killed a smuggler in the border area with Afghanistan,” the Provincial Council member was quoted as saying.
Qaderi added Tajik officers had started killing innocent Afghans in quest for medals from their government.
