RASC News Agency: Thomas Nicholson, the European Union’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, to discuss the evolving crisis in Afghanistan. According to a statement from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials held a constructive dialogue on security and political challenges posed by the situation in Afghanistan, as well as avenues for collaborative efforts to mitigate these threats. The statement further noted that both sides exchanged views on the current state and future trajectory of EU-Tajikistan relations across various domains. The European Union and Central Asian nations reaffirmed their stance on the necessity of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and emphasized the urgent need to lift restrictions imposed on women.
Tajikistan remains the only Central Asian country that has unequivocally opposed the Taliban’s return to power. Dushanbe has consistently voiced concerns over the increasing presence of terrorist factions in northern Afghanistan and the country’s role in fueling regional narcotics trafficking. Notably, the Taliban continue to harbor Ansarullah, a Tajikistani terrorist group that fought alongside them against the former Afghanistani republic. Following the Taliban’s takeover, Ansarullah militants established strongholds in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan and Takhar provinces, particularly along the Tajikistan border, where they are undergoing advanced military training.
Last year, a group of these militants attempted to infiltrate Tajikistan with the objective of destabilizing the country but were intercepted and neutralized by Tajik security forces. Dushanbe holds the Taliban directly responsible for fostering regional instability and remains deeply concerned about the long-term implications of their continued rule.
