Tajikistan accuses Kyrgyzstan of escalating the conflict

The State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan reported that Kyrgyzstan “continues the armed conflict and avoids resolving the issue through negotiations.”

Photo: Internet

On the morning of September 16 of this year, the press center of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan reported that the efforts of the Tajik side to stabilize the situation at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border had not yielded results by 11:10 AM, as the Kyrgyz side continues the armed conflict and avoids resolving the issue through negotiations.

The State Committee emphasized that “Kyrgyz servicemen responded to Tajikistan’s unilateral ceasefire with intense fire from all types of weapons towards populated areas.”

The statement noted that the Kyrgyz side “provocatively spread news about the use of ‘bearded fighters in black uniforms’ and is also ‘trying to accuse the Republic of Tajikistan of continuing the conflict via the internet, which has no real basis’.”

At the same time, the State Committee of Kyrgyzstan claims that “violating all previously reached agreements, the Tajik side treacherously attacked border and civilian facilities along the entire perimeter of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border in the Batken district of Batken region.”

Some users on social media report that Tajik servicemen have taken control of 3 Kyrgyz border outposts, resulting in “no trace of Kyrgyz people left in the border areas.”

As reported by the press service of the CSTO, on September 16, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas held telephone negotiations with the Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov and the Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda regarding the sharp escalation of the situation at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.

It is reported that as a result of armed clashes, 18 people from the Kyrgyz side have been injured, while at least two have died from the Tajik side, including one serviceman and one local resident, but there is no official data yet.

In recent years, armed conflicts have increased at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, particularly in the border areas of the Ifarin and Bobojon Gafurov districts.