A drone attack on a China-linked gold mine in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province on November 26 killed three Chinese nationals and injured another, triggering diplomatic friction across the region. The strike, carried out by an unmanned aerial vehicle armed with grenades and firearms, targeted a remote mining site operated with Chinese involvement, prompting Tajikistan to warn that the attackers were “criminal groups located in the neighbouring country” seeking to destabilise the region.
Although Dushanbe avoided naming Afghanistan directly, the reference was widely interpreted as pointing to militant networks operating across the border. The Taliban government in Kabul also condemned the attack but insisted it had no involvement, blaming instead a mysterious “circle” intent on creating “chaos, instability, and distrust between countries in the region.” Afghan officials said they were ready to support Tajikistan with intelligence and assessments to identify the real perpetrators.
Pakistan, however, swiftly intervened and directly linked the attack to Afghan-based militants. Islamabad condemned the killings as a “cowardly attack on Chinese nationals” and highlighted the use of armed drones to argue that the threat emanating from Afghan territory endangers the region. Pakistan further stressed that Afghan soil “must not be used for terrorism against its neighbours or any other country,” using the incident to reinforce its long-standing position that Afghanistan shelters extremist groups.
Analysts noted that Pakistan’s reaction aligned with its recent messaging after an Afghan national shot two US National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC — Islamabad again framed the incident as evidence that terrorism originating from Afghanistan poses global risks. Critics in India and Afghanistan accused Pakistan of opportunistically invoking such incidents to portray itself as a victim of terrorism while ignoring charges of its own long history of harbouring militants.
Tajikistan has been battling radical networks for years, especially since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, which weakened control along the Badakhshan–Khatlon border. Security experts warn that extremist groups operating in this corridor present serious cross-border risks, particularly to Chinese investments.
While the Afghan and Tajik governments avoided confrontation in their public statements, Pakistan’s direct blame attempt injected further tension, as Beijing’s response — still awaited — could influence future regional realignments. According to Pakistani foreign policy expert Ali K. Chishti, the incident is likely to “harden Beijing’s position and accelerate regional counter-terror alignment,” potentially redefining relationships between China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asian states.
