Alarm at Afghan clashes near border

The clashes between the Taliban and Northern Alliance Fighting, close to the Tajik border, has caused alarm in Tajikistan, with civilians speculating in recent days on whether they would have to flee or see their country go to war, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) stated on Friday. Russian border guards at Pyandj, 200 km south of Dushanbe, had reported fighting on the border, while those in the south said there were clashed within five to 10 km of their positions, it said. The IWPR set at about 135,000 the number of IDPs who had moved to the northeastern part of Takhar province, close to the Tajik-Afghan border. “You cannot rule out the possibility that this mass of people, who are trying to avoid cold and starvation, will attempt to enter Tajik territory,” it quoted Tajik Minister for Foreign Affairs Talbak Nazarov as saying. Russian border forces have vowed not to allow a mass, uncontrolled entry of Afghan refugees into Tajikistan but the UNHCR has played down the chances of such an exodus at this time.