An attack in the Zarbuz Gorge of the Shamsiddini Shokhin district, located along the Tajik-Afghan border, has resulted in the death of a Chinese citizen and injuries to five others. While no official statement has been released, reports suggest the attack occurred during the night of November 17-18, carried out by “armed individuals from the other side of the border.”

The precise identity and motives of the perpetrators remain unclear. Sources of RFE have speculated that the attack could have been orchestrated by either drug smugglers or militants, but no definitive conclusions have been drawn.

The presence of Chinese nationals in the area has been linked to a gold mining operation within the Zarbuz Gorge. This region, part of the Dashti-Jum nature reserve in eastern Tajikistan, lies near the Sari Gor area, which hosts a border outpost.

The Shamsiddini Shokhin region’s border with Afghanistan, stretching over 100 kilometers, is one of the most challenging sections to secure. It has a history of incidents, including hostage-takings and attacks on Tajik citizens and border guards. One notable event occurred on July 13, 1993, when Islamic militants attacked the 12th border outpost in Sari Gor, then under Russian jurisdiction.

However, this latest attack marks the first time a Chinese citizen has been killed in such an incident. The event highlights ongoing security concerns in this volatile border area, underlining the risks faced by Chinese working or stationed there.

This news comes weeks after Chinese nationals were killed in an attack in Karachi, Pakistan. Official statements claimed that two Chinese engineers were killed.