At least eight people have been killed in clashes between Tajik security forces and “anti-government militants” in a restive region bordering Afghanistan and China, according to the country’s interior ministry.
The ministry said on Wednesday members of “organised criminal groups” armed with weapons and Molotov cocktails attacked security officials in the eastern region of Gorno-Badakhshan which has long been a flashpoint of tensions.
One security officer was killed and 13 were seriously injured in the attack, it said.
The ministry said the attack came during an “anti-terror operation” launched earlier on Wednesday after 200 armed people blocked a highway on the border with Afghanistan to “destabilise the social and political situation”.
As a result of the operation, eight “militants” were killed, 11 wounded and more than 70 “active members of a terrorist group” were detained, the ministry said.
The ministry said the attack came during an “anti-terror operation” launched earlier on Wednesday after 200 armed people blocked a highway on the border with Afghanistan to “destabilise the social and political situation”.
As a result of the operation, eight “militants” were killed, 11 wounded and more than 70 “active members of a terrorist group” were detained, the ministry said.
The ministry said order has been restored in the province where protesters have demanded the resignation of the provincial government appointed by President Emomali Rahmon.
Rahmon has been in power since 1994, gradually consolidating power and sidelining political rivals and opposition groups.
The operation followed clashes last year between protesters and security forces in the provincial capital Khorog in which at least one protester was killed by police.