China has issued an urgent call for its citizens and businesses to evacuate parts of northeastern Afghanistan near the border with Tajikistan, citing a rapidly deteriorating security situation marked by deadly attacks and rising cross-border instability.
In an advisory released Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan warned that security conditions in the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border region had become “complex and severe,” following a series of violent incidents targeting Chinese nationals and commercial interests. The embassy said attacks carried out in November caused “significant casualties” and cautioned that further assaults could not be ruled out.
The warning comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of Chinese-operated gold mining projects in Badakhshan and Takhar provinces. According to the embassy, several recent security incidents involving Chinese-run mining companies resulted in deaths and injuries, as well as damage to machinery and other equipment. While specific details were not disclosed, the statement underscored the growing risks facing foreign enterprises operating in the remote and volatile region.
Chinese citizens and companies were urged to closely monitor developments, strengthen security measures and evacuate in an “orderly manner” where possible. The embassy also advised nationals to immediately report suspicious activity or emergencies to local authorities and diplomatic officials, providing emergency contact numbers for assistance.
Heightened concerns follow a deadly cross-border attack on November 27, 2025, when three Chinese workers were killed in Tajikistan in an assault that Tajik authorities said originated from Afghan territory near the border. The incident further strained regional security at a time of heightened tension between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Tajikistan, a Muslim-majority country and one of the poorest former Soviet republics, has repeatedly warned of cross-border militancy since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. President Emomali Rahmon, who has ruled since 1992, has been openly critical of the Taliban, urging them to protect the rights of ethnic Tajiks, who make up roughly a quarter of Afghanistan’s population.
Despite these tensions, Tajikistan has maintained limited engagement with Kabul, including diplomatic contacts, border trade and electricity exports. However, relations have been strained by recurring violence. In December, Tajik state media reported that five people, including two Tajik border guards, were killed in an armed clash along the border, prompting Dushanbe to demand an apology from Afghanistan for failing to uphold security obligations.
China’s evacuation advisory underscores growing regional anxiety over security in northern Afghanistan and signals Beijing’s increasing concern for the safety of its nationals and investments in the area.
