Dushanbe: Five people were killed in an armed clash on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, as reported by Tajik state media. The incident occurred when three individuals crossed into Tajikistan's Shamsiddin Shohin district in the southwestern Khatlon region late Tuesday, and were subsequently located on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Border Troops of the Tajik State Committee for National Security issued a statement through state news agency Khovar. The report detailed that the individuals, labeled as terrorists, refused to comply with orders from Tajik border guards to surrender, and instead offered armed resistance. The statement indicated that these individuals intended to launch an armed attack on one of the border posts of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan. As a result of the combat operation, all three were neutralized, while two Tajik border officers lost their lives in the clashes.

The statement further revealed this was the third reported instance of an 'armed attack, terrorist act, and border crossing' from Afghanistan in the past month. It accused the Afghan government of neglecting its international obligations and promises regarding the security and stability of the Tajik-Afghan border. The Tajik authorities expressed the expectation that the Afghan administration would apologize to the people of Tajikistan and implement effective measures to enhance border security.

There was no immediate response from Afghanistan regarding the incident. Earlier this month, Tajikistan had reported casualties in two separate cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, resulting in five deaths and five injuries.

In response to the growing concerns over cross-border security threats, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon inaugurated four new border outposts and a tank training range at the Harb-Maidon training ground near the Tajik-Afghan border on Wednesday. This move is part of Tajikistan's ongoing efforts to strengthen its border security.