ISLAMABAD: The Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan has issued an urgent advisory calling on Chinese citizens and companies operating near the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border to evacuate amid worsening security conditions.
In a statement, the embassy described the situation in the border region as “complex and severe,” warning that further attacks targeting Chinese nationals and businesses could not be ruled out. It noted that a series of attacks on Chinese citizens last November resulted in significant casualties.
The embassy said multiple recent security incidents involving Chinese-operated gold mining companies had taken place in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan and Takhar provinces, causing deaths and injuries as well as damage to machinery and equipment.
Chinese citizens and enterprises in the affected areas were urged to closely monitor developments, strengthen security measures and carry out evacuations in an orderly manner. The advisory also called on Chinese nationals to immediately report any unusual activity or emergencies to local authorities and the Chinese Embassy, which provided emergency contact numbers.
The warning comes against the backdrop of rising cross-border violence. On November 27, 2025, three Chinese workers in Tajikistan were killed in an attack launched from Afghan territory near the border, according to Tajik authorities.
Tajikistan, a Muslim-majority former Soviet republic, has repeatedly raised concerns over cross-border militancy since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. President Emomali Rahmon has been openly critical of the Taliban, urging them to protect the rights of ethnic Tajiks, who make up about a quarter of Afghanistan’s population.
Despite strained relations, Tajikistan has maintained limited engagement with Afghanistan, including diplomatic contacts, border trade and electricity supplies. However, tensions escalated again in December when Tajik state media reported that five people, including two Tajik border guards, were killed in an armed clash along the border.
Following the incident, Tajikistan sought an apology from Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of failing to meet its obligations to ensure border security.
