The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed regret over the killing of Chinese citizens along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border during a phone call with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

Muttaqi said the Taliban were prepared to help secure the border and take part in a joint investigation into the incident.

According to the ministry, Muttaqi told Muhriddin that a “climate of trust” had developed in recent months in the political, economic and security cooperation between the two countries, but that certain actors were attempting to undermine that progress and create tensions. The statement did not specify who those actors might be.

Muttaqi said strengthening border security, initiating a joint probe and improving coordination were part of the Taliban’s commitments. He called joint action against what he described as “malicious elements” an urgent requirement for regional stability.

At least two security incidents along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border in less than a week have resulted in the deaths of Chinese nationals. China has confirmed that its citizens were targeted in an armed attack near the border on Sunday, and said three others were killed in another attack on Friday.

Tajikistan says the first attack was carried out by a drone that dropped grenades. Following the incidents, the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe urged Chinese citizens in Tajikistan to immediately leave border areas. The embassy said five Chinese nationals had been killed and five others wounded in cross-border attacks from Afghanistan within a week.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry said the most recent attack took place in the Shamsiddin Shohin district of Khatlon province, where the Chinese nationals had been working for a local company in southern Tajikistan.