Kyrgyzstan announced a ceasefire with Tajikistan on Friday (September 16) from 4pm local time (12pm Paris time), after more than three dozen skirmishes along the border between the two Central Asian countries, the Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said in a statement. Injuries.
Earlier, Tajikistan accused Kyrgyzstan of shelling the border town with heavy weapons on Friday, September 16. The violence represents a significant escalation if border clashes continue between the two former Soviet republics, which have been embroiled in a territorial dispute for years.
The escalation comes as the leaders of the two countries, Kyrgyz President Satir Dzabarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahman, are currently attending the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. They even appeared in a group photo on Thursday night.
According to Bishkek, Tajik forces on Friday shelled the border town of Badken, located in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, in an area disputed by the two countries. “Environments of Batman Airport and The [lieux] Several rocket launcher systems located on the outskirts of the city came under fire. “Citizen infrastructure destroyed in Batken”Kyrgyz border guards said in a statement.
For its part, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health announced on Friday that thirty-one people had been hospitalized, according to a rapidly growing updated report. At least four soldiers were killed “Gunshot Wounds”According to regional authorities.
“Severe Conflicts”
This was reported by the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan “Severe Conflicts” And “violence” Tajikistan was blamed for the border area “Bomb Kyrgyz territory with all its arsenals” And keep using it “Heavy Equipment”.
He said that he used “Heavy armour, multiple rocket launchers and air transport” Through Tajikistan. “All land and air attacks find their response from the Kyrgyz side, which prevents them from capturing territory”he added.
Tajikistan, for its part, accused Kyrgyz forces of firing on Tajik border posts early Friday, without immediately reporting casualties among its ranks. Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that one Tajik border guard was killed and three border guards were wounded. This report has not been confirmed by official sources.
Opening of public flights, welcome centers
According to Kyrgyzstan’s diplomacy, the foreign ministers of both countries are trying to end the conflict. Residents of several border villages have fled the war zone, with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations also announcing the opening of reception centers.
“We call on both sides to take comprehensive and urgent measures (…) Put an end to escalation and provocation efforts by third parties”The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Earlier this week, clashes between the two countries killed two Tajik border guards and injured many on both sides. The border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has seen frequent violent clashes.
About half of the 970 km border is disputed and progress on demarcation has been slow in recent years. The year 2021 has seen an unprecedented number of clashes between the two sides, with more than fifty dead and raising fears that the conflict could escalate.