Kyrgyzstan’s health ministry has reported 36 people killed in the clashes on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border.
A total of 129 people were injured. According to Kyrgyzstan’s emergencies ministry, 177 tonnes of humanitarian aid have been delivered to the Batken region. Another 160 tonnes are expected from Bishkek.
Tensions on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border escalated on 14 September. According to Kyrgyzstan, Tajik border guards “took combat positions in an undocumented section of the border in violation of previously reached agreements between the sides”. In response to the demand to leave the territory, the Tajik border guards opened fire, the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security stated. This led to a shootout.
Kyrgyzstan has evacuated over 136,000 citizens and declared a state of emergency in the Batken region.
Yesterday, at 7:30 a.m., Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan discussed the conditions of a ceasefire, however, soon after that, shooting resumed. Kyrgyzstan accused Tajikistan of shelling the settlements of Dostuk and Pasky Aryk in the Batken region. For its part, Tajikistan stated that Kyrgyzstan had started shelling the republic’s border areas.
