A large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), resembling a military-grade drone, crashed in the Sharora settlement of the Hisor district, approximately five kilometers from Dushanbe, on December 3, according to a report by Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi.

Details of the Incident

The UAV reportedly struck a power line pole on Karim Devona Street before crashing to the ground. While the impact caused visible flames at the crash site, no injuries or structural damage were reported by local residents. Video footage provided to Radio Ozodi captured the aftermath, showing flames at the scene.

Local law enforcement and military personnel swiftly arrived to secure the area. However, the drone’s origin and mission remain undisclosed, and Tajik authorities have yet to release an official statement.

The crash site is notably close to the Ayni military airfield, a strategic facility operated by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD). This proximity has fueled speculation about the drone’s purpose and its potential connection to military operations.

Emerging UAV Deployment in Tajikistan

Defense analysts have highlighted recent footage released by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), confirming the use of Chinese-made WJ-100 UAVs by the Tajik Armed Forces. This development marks a significant shift in Tajikistan’s military capabilities, as the WJ-100 is a sophisticated platform known for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Experts suggest that these UAVs are likely to be operated by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) and the Tajik Border Service, rather than the Ministry of Defense. This operational model mirrors the approach adopted by Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (UKMK) in recent years, where UAV operations were shifted from traditional military control to border security and intelligence agencies.The WJ-100 Blade drone from China Aerospace Science and Industry made its debut at a military parade celebrating the 30th anniversary of the independence of Kyrgyzstan in 2021.

Albeit structure wise the UAV which crashed looks very similar to CH-4.

Controversial Chinese Bases in Tajikistan:

In 2016, China signed a security pact with Tajikistan, establishing a military presence in the region. While neither government has officially acknowledged the existence of the base—an extension of a former Soviet outpost—satellite imagery reveals ongoing construction, including new access roads, indicating a steady expansion of the facility near Shaimak, as per a report in Telegraph.

Beijing’s increasing presence in Central Asia coincides with its broader geopolitical strategy. China already operates a military base in Tajikistan in the Murghab region near the Afghan border in a remote stretch close to the Wakhan Corridor.Notably, China was the first country to recognize an ambassador appointed by the Taliban and has actively sought to strengthen ties with the group now governing Afghanistan. However, China’s growing influence in this region is driven primarily by domestic security concerns.

The Chinese government aims to maintain strict control over Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, a region prone to anti-government protests. By extending its military and political reach into neighboring Central Asia, Beijing seeks to stabilize its western frontier and safeguard its ambitious economic expansion plans, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, which connects China to Central Asia and Europe. In 2021 Tajik First Deputy Interior Minister Abdurahmon Alamshozoda said the Chinese facility would be located in the village of Vakhon in the country’s remote Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and that the base would be owned by the country’s Rapid Reaction Group — special forces that operate under the purview of the Interior Ministry. Lawmakers said regular Tajik troops would also be present at the facility.