Russia has urged Tajikistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to take “mutually acceptable measures” to resolve tensions along the Tajik-Afghan border amid reports of an increased military buildup on both sides, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on October 1.
Recall, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has refused to recognize the Taliban-led government and condemned the militant group for alleged human rights abuses in the Panjshir Valley, which was the last pocket of resistance to the group.
The Taliban, for its part, has accused official Dushanbe of meddling in Afghanistan's internal affairs.
Recall, in an address to the UN General Assembly on September 23, Tajik leader reiterated his previous calls for the Taliban to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of all political and ethnic groups in order to allay tensions.
RFE/RL says Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksei Zaitsev told reporters in Moscow on October 1 that Russia is "concerned about the growing tension in Tajik-Afghan relations against the background of the mutually acrimonious statements by the leaders of both countries."
Zaitsev said the Taliban has revealed that tens of thousands of fighters have been deployed in the northeastern province of Takhar, which borders Tajikistan.
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi as denying the movement was building up its forces at the Tajik border.
Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the comments.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in late September that members of the Taliban's special forces unit had been deployed to Takhar to beef up security in the region.
Mujahid added that Taliban fighters took over an airport in the neighboring Afghan province of Kunduz, which also borders Tajikistan.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Acting Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salaam Hanafi in late September warned Tajikistan not to meddle in Afghanistan’s affairs.
Citing Al-Jazeera, Afghanistan’s Khaama Press news agency reported on September 28 that the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar accused Tajikistan of interfering in Afghanistan’s affairs.
Mullah Baradar in his recent interview with Al Jazeera though did not mention any specific action, said that there is a reaction to every action.
Tajikistan last month urged the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)'s member nations to help strengthen security along the Tajik-Afghan border.
Since then, the alliance has staged military drills in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
