Entry of Foreign Citizens Into Tajik-Afghan Border Areas Without Permission Prohibited

The Tajikistan State Committee For National Security announced that it has implemented strict controls for the entry of its citizens, stateless individuals, and foreigners into border areas with Afghanistan.

The committee stated that the entry of foreign citizens and stateless individuals into border areas without permission is strictly prohibited.

On Friday, Tajikistan’s state news agency, Khovar, reported that the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan informed citizens of Tajikistan, foreign countries, and stateless individuals that strict control is being applied for residence, entry, and exit in the border areas.

According to Khovar, in accordance with Article 19 of Tajikistan's border law, the entry of foreign citizens and stateless individuals into the border area without permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and internal affairs agencies is strictly prohibited.

Approval for the entry of other individuals into the border areas is only granted upon presentation of identification documents.

In this regard, the Tajikistan National Security Committee has requested its citizens and foreign nationals intending to travel to border areas, including Khatlon, to declare the purpose of their travel and carry identification documents in order to obtain entry permission.

The Tajikistan National Security Committee emphasised that entry into border areas is not allowed without complying with the mentioned conditions.

Khovar reported that these measures are aimed at ensuring security due to the increasingly complex situation in the region and the world, and the efforts of terrorist and extremist organisations to cross borders illegally for terrorist activities in various parts of the world, including Tajikistan.

Among the Central Asian countries, Tajikistan has the longest border with Afghanistan. Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, Tajikistan has repeatedly expressed concerns about the infiltration of extremists from Afghanistan into Tajikistan and Central Asia.