Chinese Construction Crews Resume Work on Road Near Tajik-Afghan Border

Tajikistan says enhanced security is in place after a pause following fatal attacks that targeted road workers.

Chinese construction teams have resumed operations on a roughly 110-kilometer section of the Dushanbe–Kulma highway close to Tajikistan’s frontier with Afghanistan, Tajik transport officials told RFE/L’s Tajik-language service. Work, which reportedly restarted in April, follows a months-long suspension prompted by violent incidents late last year that led Beijing to pull many of its nationals from border regions.

The suspension began after two separate attacks in late 2025. One assault on a road crew in November killed two people and wounded two others; in a separate incident later that year three Chinese nationals were also killed. Tajik authorities quickly pointed to Islamist militant groups as suspects, though those assertions have not been publicly verified. Security forces in the region have also faced clashes earlier this year with individuals suspected of narcotics trafficking, adding to instability.

Tajikistan says it has stepped up protections for the Chinese teams, deploying special units to accompany crews and coordinating planned joint drills with Chinese security personnel this September. A regional analyst, speaking from Dushanbe, cautioned that armed escorts can reduce immediate vulnerability but stressed that persistent cross-border threats and adaptive tactics by attackers mean risks remain. Local officials say the presence of uniformed guards has been a condition for Chinese firms to continue.

The restart comes after a Treaty of Friendship signed with Beijing in May that opened the door for investment and projects valued at about eight billion dollars. For Tajikistan, the highway is a strategic link and a high-profile component of bilateral economic ties; for China, protection of workers and assets has become a priority in the face of rising concerns about safety.

Community leaders around the construction zone express mixed feelings — relief over jobs and improved roads, and unease about becoming a potential target. Investigations into last year’s deadly incidents are ongoing, and both governments indicate that the continuation of work will depend on security developments along the border.