Taliban Crisis Escalate, Countries Close Consulates In North Afghan Region; Tajikistan Reinforces Its Border

Turkish and Russian consulates in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province and fourth-largest city in Afghanistan, have reportedly been closed.

Afghan policemen sit on an armored vehicle at a checkpoint in Panjwai district of Kandahar province on July 4, 2021, after the Taliban captured a key district in their former bastion of Kandahar after fierce night-time fighting with Afghan government forces, officials said on July 4, sending scores of families fleeing from the area. | AFP

The Taliban is once again establishing its base in Afghanistan. In the light of events, other countries have started closing their consulates in Afghanistan now. According to information and reports received from officials, given the victory of the Taliban in the areas of northern Afghanistan, some countries have closed their consulates located in that area.

Tajikistan is securing its southern border by deploying reserve troops. According to reports from Tajikistan, about 1000 Afghan soldiers have crossed the border and fled to Tajikistan as the Taliban forces advance in the northern region.

According to a statement issued by the Tajikistan government on Monday, President Emomali Rakhmon has ordered the deployment of 20,000 reserve troops to further strengthen the border with Afghanistan.

This exodus of the Afghan army comes after the Taliban captured most of the districts in the northeastern Badakhshan province. Several districts laid down their arms without a fight, while hundreds of soldiers of the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces crossed the border and fled to Tajikistan seeking safety.

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. The Balkh provincial governor's spokesman Munir Farhad said on Tuesday that the consulates of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India, and Pakistan have reduced their services. He informed that Turkey and Russia have closed their consulates, and their diplomats have left the city.

The Tajik government said Afghan troops were 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 many times that following the withdrawal of the Americans and their allies from Afghanistan, the development of the situation in this country is a matter of growing concern," Peskov said.