Two Tajik foresters were killed and one other wounded yesterday late evening as their vehicle was fired upon from across the border.
A source at the Tajik law enforcement authorities says the incident took place in the Farkhor district, the Khatlon province, in the area between the 3rd and 4th frontier outposts of the Hamadoni border.
“Three residents of the Farkhor district were going by NIVA (Russian jeep) when they came under fire from Afghan territory. As a result of the firing, Amirkhon Saidov, 53, and Davlat Sangakov, 50, were killed while Safarkhon Rahmatov was wounded,” the source said, noting that all OF them had served as foresters.
The Farkhor district in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province borders the Darkad district in Afghanistan’s Takhar province.
Tajik law enforcement authorities have launched investigation into the yesterday’s border incident.
Recall, the Taliban militants have overrun the Ai Khanum dry port in Takhar province recently, killing more than 10 Afghan border guards.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, citing a security official in the Farkhor district, says the three people were loggers.
It was reportedly unclear whether they were hit by small-arms or mortar fire. However, Akhbor.com news site reported the vehicle had been hit by mortar fire.
Local residents reported law enforcement units were in the area, with helicopters flying overhead, according to RFE/RL’s Tajik Service.
Tajikistan has a nearly 1,400-kilometer common border with Afghanistan. Recall, Tajik border service chief Rajabali Rahmonali warned in early May this year that up to 7,000 Taliban militants were believed to be scattered along the Afghan-Tajik border. Speaking at the ceremony dedicated to the 15th anniversary of implementation of the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), Rahonali noted in Dushanbe on May 2 that the Taliban Movement has deployed 6,825 militants along Afghanistan’s common border with Tajikistan.
