Tajikistan remains suspicious of Afghan government

Significance

An Afghan government spokesman afterwards described Mehruddin's comments as "attention-seeking" and "exaggeration". The exchange exemplifies the tense relationship that persists a year on from the Taliban takeover.

Impacts

• Tajik-Kyrgyz border clashes will recur as long as both governments' responses are half-hearted.
• The reported emergence of Tajik irregular forces in clashes with Kyrgyzstan should cause alarm given Tajikistan's history of civil war.
• Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is grooming his son for succession, so stability is doubly important at the moment.