Chinese workers resume Tajikistan highway construction near Afghan border amid enhanced security

Chinese workers have resumed construction on a vital highway in southeastern Tajikistan, near the border with Afghanistan, after a months-long suspension due to security concerns. The project, a 109-kilometer section of the Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog-Kulma highway, restarted in April following assurances from Tajik authorities that enhanced security measures would protect Chinese personnel.

Construction was initially halted in late 2025 after China advised its citizens to leave border areas. This advisory followed a series of violent incidents, including an attack on a road construction crew in November that resulted in two deaths and two injuries. Later that year, three Chinese nationals were killed in a separate attack. Tajik authorities attributed these attacks to Islamic militants, though these claims remain unsubstantiated.

Recent security enhancements include the protection of Chinese construction crews by Tajik special forces. Furthermore, Chinese and Tajik security forces are scheduled to conduct joint military exercises in Tajikistan this September, signaling a strengthened security cooperation between the two nations.

The resumption of construction coincides with growing economic ties between Tajikistan and China. In May, the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship, paving the way for agreements valued at approximately $8 billion involving Chinese entities. This renewed focus on infrastructure and economic partnership highlights the deepening relationship between the two neighboring countries.