https://www.khaama.com/tajikistan-a...irstrikes-in-darqad-district-of-takhar-05834/
By Khaama Press - Mon Aug 27 2018, 10:48 am
The Tajikistan warplanes have carried out airstrikes in Darqad district in northeastern Takhar province of Afghanistan, the local officials said.
The airstrike was carried out earlier today hours after a clash broke out between the
border forces of Tajikistan and suspected drug smugglers.
Provincial governor’s spokesman Mohammad Jawid Hejri confirmed the incident but did not elaborate further.
In the meantime, an informed local official said a clash took place between the
border guards of Tajikistan and drug smugglers late on Sunday afternoon, leaving two Tajikistan border guards dead.
Takhar has been among the relatively calm provinces in northeastern parts of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime.
However, the security situation of the province has deteriorated during the recent years amid ongoing efforts by the anti-government armed militants to expand their activities in northern and northeastern parts of the country.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/inter...n-officials/article24790603.ece?homepage=true
Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the clash and but said it broke out between drug smugglers and Tajik border guards and the aircraft bombed a forested area used by smugglers.
A Tajik or Russian aircraft bombed a northeastern Afghan border district during a clash between gunmen and Tajik border guards, and six of the gunmen were killed after they killed two of the guards, two Afghan government officials said on Monday.
Cross-border clashes are rare on Afghanistan's border with
Tajikistan, compared, for example, with fighting along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan.
Khalil Asir, a spokesman for Takhar provincial police, said it was not clear if it was a Russian or Tajik aircraft that conducted the bombing on Sunday in Durqad district of Takhar province, but eight were killed, and six wounded.
Jawed Hejri, spokesman for Takhar provincial governor, also said it was not clear where the aircraft came from but he said the six people killed in the clash with Tajik border forces were drug smugglers.
“The identity of the drugs smugglers is not known,” Mr. Hejri said.
Afghan Paramilitary spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the clash and but said it broke out between drug smugglers and Tajik border guards and the aircraft bombed a forested area used by smugglers.
“We are investigating this as Afghan Paramilitary fighters have no permission to clash with neighbour countries,” he said.
Officials at the Tajikistan and Russian embassies in Kabul were not immediately available for comment.
