Three Chinese workers were killed after a drone launched from Afghan territory struck a labour camp in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province, according to Tajik officials. The Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attackers used an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying grenades and firearms to hit the site, operated by LLC Shohin SM, a Chinese-linked gold-mining company.

What Happened

The attack struck the workers’ camp near the Yol Border Detachment in Khatlon, close to the Afghan border. Tajikistan’s foreign ministry described it as a deliberate, targeted strike and called on authorities in Kabul to take action to prevent further incidents. The Taliban’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, with a deputy spokesman saying initial assessments pointed to groups “trying to create chaos, instability, and distrust between countries in the region.”

No group had publicly claimed responsibility at the time of the most recent reporting. Tajik officials attributed the strike to criminal or militant groups operating from Afghan territory, an area long associated with smuggling routes and limited state oversight.

Diplomatic Response

China’s embassy in Tajikistan issued an alert advising Chinese nationals in the country to closely monitor the security situation, avoid travel near the Afghan border, and consider leaving the area. Chinese companies are among the largest foreign investors in Tajikistan, particularly in mining, hydropower and infrastructure — sectors that frequently place workers in remote border regions with limited security coverage.

Why It Matters

The roughly 1,400-kilometre Tajikistan–Afghanistan border has historically been used for narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling and militant movement, and Central Asian governments have repeatedly flagged the difficulty of monitoring it. The use of an armed drone in this attack reflects a broader trend security analysts have tracked: the growing use of low-cost, modified commercial drones by non-state armed groups operating in poorly governed border regions. For related coverage, see our international news section.

Source / Reference

• Anadolu Agency: Drone flown from Afghanistan hit workers’ camp in southern Tajikistan, killing 3 Chinese
• The Diplomat: 5 Chinese Workers Killed in 2 Attacks in Tajikistan Along Afghan Border
• Global Times: Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan strongly condemns armed attack near Afghan border