Tajikistan has confirmed that three armed men who crossed illegally from Afghanistan were killed in a clash with border forces, while two Tajik servicemen also lost their lives, prompting Dushanbe to demand an apology and stronger border security measures from the Taliban authorities.

According to Tajik officials, the incident began late on December 23 when three members of a terrorist group crossed into Tajik territory from Afghanistan. The infiltration occurred near Border Outpost No. 5 in the Qavoq area of Shamsiddin Shohin district.

The Tajik state news agency reported that border forces launched a search operation and located the group the following morning. The State Committee for National Security said the men ignored repeated orders to surrender and opened fire, triggering an armed confrontation.

“All three infiltrators were neutralised during the operation,” the committee said in a statement, adding that the suspects intended to attack a military outpost.

Security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons from the scene, including an M-16 rifle, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, pistols fitted with suppressors, hand grenades, a night-vision device and explosives.

Two members of the Tajik border force were killed during the exchange of fire. They were later identified as Navruzbekov Zirehbon Naghzibekovich and Qurbonov Ismatullo Ghulomovich.

Tajik authorities strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a terrorist act and holding the Afghan Taliban government responsible for failing to prevent cross-border attacks.

Officials said the latest clash was the third such incident along the Tajik-Afghan border in the past month, resulting in the deaths of both civilians and military personnel.

In its statement, Tajikistan said these incidents demonstrated Kabul’s failure to meet its international obligations and repeated assurances on ensuring border security and countering militant groups.

Dushanbe has formally called on the Taliban leadership to apologise to the people of Tajikistan and to take immediate and effective steps to prevent similar incidents.

Afghan media reported that the Taliban authorities had not issued any official response as of Wednesday.