Tajikistan protests Afghanistan over airspace violation, civilian death

Tajikistan has lodged a formal protest with Afghanistan over an alleged violation of its airspace, damage to residential buildings and the death of a civilian in the border district of Darvaz, the Tajik Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said recent armed clashes in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, particularly in areas bordering Tajikistan’s Darvaz district, had threatened the security of Tajik border communities and resulted in violations of international law, Caliber.Az reports per Tajik media.

According to Tajik authorities, the incidents led to a breach of the country’s airspace, damage to homes and the death of one civilian in Darvaz.

In its note of protest, Tajikistan urged the Afghan side to take the incident seriously, respect the inviolability of the Tajik-Afghan border and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The victim was identified by the Darvaz district administration as 21-year-old Jasmina Shirinjon, a resident of the village of Dashtak. She was survived by a young child. A local source said she was pregnant.

The incident occurred on August 13, and Tajik law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances, according to the authorities.

On August 14, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon spoke by telephone with Darvaz district head Umedjon Nosirzoda and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

Rahmon ordered financial and other support for the family and instructed officials to ensure the care of Shirinjon’s young child.

By Sabina Mammadli