Kyrgyzstan accuses Tajikistan of firing at its positions on common border

Sep. 16 () –

The Kyrgyz Border Service has reported during Friday morning that the situation on the common border with Tajikistan remains tense and that shooting is being recorded along the entire perimeter of the border with its neighboring country.

“The border service notes that firing continues along the entire perimeter of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in the Batken region. The Tajik side is using tanks, armored vehicles and mortars,” the Kyrgyz Border Service has detailed in a statement picked up by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL.

“Kyrgyz border guards have responded to the armed aggression from the Tajik side in response by taking appropriate measures using all available techniques and weapons to force the enemy to stop firing,” the Kyrgyz authorities added.

For its part, Tajikistan has detailed that at around 4:50 a.m. (local time), Kyrgyz border guards at the Dinau border post allegedly violated the “agreement” between the two countries and shelled the Tajik border post of Dushanbe, as reported by the Khovar agency.

In response, the Tajik Armed Forces reportedly used heavy weapons, the agency reported, citing a statement from the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan.

A meeting of the leaders of the Kyrgyz region of Batken and the Sogd region of Tajikistan is scheduled to be attended by border representatives of the two countries.