Afghanistan, Aug. 26 -- Fighting in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province has raised concerns about cross-border security in Tajikistan and could pose longer-term risks to Uzbekistan's trade and transit interests, according to an analysis published by The Times of Central Asia.
Robert Cutler, a Canadian researcher who has studied Central Asian affairs for more than three decades, said recent clashes in Badakhshan point to increased instability in northern Afghanistan.
Cutler reported that 22 incidents involving armed groups opposed to the Taliban were recorded in Badakhshan between January and August 2026, compared with four incidents during the second half of 2025. The figure and reporting period require human confirmation befor...