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Putin offers to help Tajikistan protect border with Afghanistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon that he was ready to provide the necessary support to his Tajik counterpart to ward off any threats emanating from Afghanistan.
In a statement issued by Putin’s office, Moscow said the two leaders had discussed the situation along the Tajik-Afghan border in a telephone conversation.
“The discussion focused on the difficult situation on the Tajik-Afghan border caused by the escalation of armed confrontation in Afghanistan, including in the border area,” the statement read.
“Vladimir Putin confirmed his readiness to provide Tajikistan with the necessary support, both bilaterally and within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation,” read the statement.
This comes after escalating violence has gripped the northern parts of Afghanistan in the past week and resulted in a number of districts, and border crossings into Tajikistan, falling to the Taliban.
During a National Security Council meeting on Monday, Rahmon meanwhile ordered the deployment of 20,000 troops to the frontier.
Rahmon also raised concerns over the situation in Afghanistan with his Uzbek and Kazakh counterparts.
These developments come after over 1,000 Afghan military personnel retreated to Tajikistan on Sunday as Taliban fighters closed in on border crossings between the two countries, Central Asian media outlet Akipress reported on Monday
Akipress said the Taliban captured Khwahan, Shekay, Nusay, Maimay, Sheghnan, and Ishkashim districts in Badakhshan province, which all border Tajikistan.
According to the report, 1,037 Afghan military personnel crossed into Tajikistan following armed clashes with the Taliban.
Reports also emerged over the weekend that at least 300 Afghan security force members crossed into Tajikistan on Saturday amid heavy clashes with the Taliban.
Last week, Moscow promised to provide any necessary assistance to Tajikistan if needed.
Russia’s state media TASS reported Thursday that State Duma Defense Committee Head Vladimir Shamanov said assistance will be provided in accordance with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Speaking ahead of a meeting with the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council, Shamanov said: “We will surely provide comprehensive assistance to Tajikistan under the CSTO commitments [in case of the mounting terrorist threat]. Naturally, we won’t leave it [Tajikistan] alone.”
The head of the State Duma Defense Committee also reiterated Russia’s position with regard to the concerns over the situation in Afghanistan.
“The measures, including those taken by the Russian side, were outlined both by the [Russian] defense minister and the president [of Russia] to the effect that we need to think about providing the 201st military base in Tajikistan with the required capabilities,” Shamanov said adding that Russian border guards were now “taking a number of organizational measures” in this regard.
The United Kingdom deported only 123 Afghan asylum seekers last year, representing around two percent of the total number of Afghans whose asylum applications were rejected, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The figures highlight the limited number of returns despite a larger pool of unsuccessful applicants, underscoring the challenges facing British authorities in enforcing deportations.
The report notes that the vast majority of rejected Afghan asylum seekers remain in the UK, as legal, political, and logistical barriers continue to complicate their removal.
Discussions have been ongoing within the British government about potential arrangements to return failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan. However, no large-scale deportation framework has yet been implemented.
The issue forms part of a broader debate in the UK over migration policy, particularly as the government faces pressure to address rising numbers of asylum seekers while balancing legal and human rights considerations.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Tariq Ali Bakhit, has called for continued international engagement and urgent economic support for Afghanistan during a high-level donor community meeting held in Istanbul.
The three-day meeting of Afghanistan Coordination Group, held from April 28 to 30, brought together international stakeholders to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with a focus on humanitarian needs and economic stability.
Addressing participants, Ambassador Bakhit said Afghanistan is currently facing a critical phase that requires sustained global attention and practical, immediate measures to ease human suffering and stabilise the country’s economy.
He stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian assistance, particularly in food security and healthcare, while also calling for coordinated efforts to ease restrictions on banking channels. According to the envoy, improving financial access and supporting alternative livelihoods are key to preventing further economic decline and helping Afghan families cope with ongoing challenges.
Bakhit also highlighted the role of OIC-affiliated institutions and partners in supporting early recovery efforts, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Organization for Food Security, and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
He concluded by reaffirming the OIC’s commitment to continued constructive dialogue and cooperation with international partners aimed at promoting stability and laying the groundwork for Afghanistan’s long-term recovery.
A new charity, the Rahmanullah Gurbaz Welfare Foundation, has been officially inaugurated in Kabul. The initiative was established by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a member of Afghanistan’s national cricket team.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Gurbaz said the foundation aims to expand access to education and healthcare services while also creating employment opportunities for Afghans. He stressed that meaningful progress in the country depends on collective effort and shared responsibility.
“The core purpose of this foundation is to promote education,” he said. “An educated person is enlightened, while someone deprived of education is like a person without sight.”
Participants at the event also underscored the importance of investing in education as a pathway to national development. Mujib-ur-Rahman Baheer, head of Ariana News, welcomed the initiative and called for greater focus on learning and academic advancement across the country.
Meanwhile, Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, emphasized that such initiatives must be genuine and transparent, warning that they should not serve symbolic purposes or personal interests but instead deliver real benefits to the public.
The launch comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to grapple with economic hardship and overlapping crises, including poverty, natural disasters, and the return of migrants—factors that have significantly increased the need for sustained humanitarian support.
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