Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan announced that an attack involving firearms and a grenade-equipped drone was carried out from Afghan territory on the base of the Shahin SM company in Khatlon, resulting in the deaths of three Chinese nationals. Dushanbe described this act as the work of "criminal groups" and called on the Taliban authorities to take immediate measures to ensure border security.

The Tajik Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday evening, (Nov 27), that the attack was conducted the previous night from inside Afghanistan on the workplace of employees of the Shahin SM gold-mining company in the Shamsuddin Shahin district of the border province of Khatlon.

According to the ministry, the attackers used firearms and a drone equipped with a grenade, leading to the deaths of three Chinese employees of the company. The government of Tajikistan condemned the incident and described it as an action carried out by "criminal groups" based in Afghanistan.

Dushanbe called on the Taliban government to take "effective measures to ensure security and stability along the border," warning that despite Tajikistan`s efforts to manage the frontier, armed groups continue their destabilizing activities.

While China and the Taliban authorities have not yet issued an official response to the attack, a delegation from Afghanistan-led by Mohammad Ismail Ghaznavi, the Taliban governor of Badakhshan-has traveled to Tajikistan for discussions on enhancing coordination at border crossings and addressing border-related issues. The delegation is expected to meet with senior Tajik security officials.