The Taliban is once again establishing its base in Afghanistan. In light of the events, other countries have now started closing their consulates in Afghanistan. According to information and reports received from the authorities, in view of the victory of the Taliban in the areas of northern Afghanistan, some countries have closed their consulates located in that region.
Tajikistan is securing its southern border by deploying reserve troops. According to reports in Tajikistan, around 1000 Afghan soldiers have crossed the border and fled to Tajikistan as Taliban forces advance into the northern region.
President Emomali Rakhmon has ordered the deployment of 20,000 reserve troops to further strengthen the border with Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by the Tajikistan government on Monday.
The Afghan army exodus comes after the Taliban captured most of the districts in northeastern Badakhshan province. Several districts laid down their arms without a fight, while hundreds of soldiers from the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces crossed the border and fled to Tajikistan in search of security.
Turkish and Russian consulates in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province and fourth largest city in Afghanistan, have reportedly been closed. Iran said it had limited activities at its consulate in the city.
Fighting is also reported in Balkh province, but the provincial capital is relatively calm. Munir Farhad, spokesman for the Balkh provincial governor, said on Tuesday that the consulates of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India and Pakistan have reduced their services. He said Turkey and Russia have closed their consulates and their diplomats have left the city.
The Tajik government said Afghan troops had been allowed to cross the border on humanitarian grounds. However, the border posts on the Tajik side are controlled by the country’s forces and the Tajik side has had no clashes with the Taliban. Russia also expressed concern over the developments on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was “increased concern” about the ongoing fighting, but his country had no plans to send troops to aid the former republic.
“We have said several times that following the withdrawal of Americans and their allies from Afghanistan, the development of the situation in this country is a matter of concern,” Peskov said.
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