Kabul urges talks to resolve Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan conflict

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Sunday urged Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to resolve their border dispute through talks as continuation of the conflict would negatively impact the region’s security and stability.

Kyrgyzstan reported “intense battles” with Central Asian neighbor Tajikistan on Friday and said 24 people had been killed in the latest outbreak of violence to hit the former Soviet Union.

Both of the impoverished landlocked nations have accused each other of restarting fighting in a disputed area, despite a ceasefire deal.

In a statement, the Kyrgyz border service said its forces were continuing to repel Tajik attacks.  “From the Tajik side, shelling of the positions of the Kyrgyz side continues, and in some areas intense battles are going on,” it said.

The Kyrgyz health ministry later said 24 citizens had been killed and 87 wounded, Russia’s Interfax news agency said. It did not say how many of the victims were from the military.

Kamchybek Tashiev, the head of the Kyrgyz state committee on national security, was quoted by Russia’s RIA news agency as saying military casualties had been high.

“The situation is difficult and as for what will happen tomorrow – no one can give any guarantees,” he said.

The Kyrgyz ministry of emergency situations said more than 136,000 civilians had been evacuated from the conflict zone, Interfax said.

Earlier in the day Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon agreed to order a ceasefire and troop pullback at a regional summit in Uzbekistan, Japarov’s office said.

Kyrgyzstan reported fighting in its southern Batken province which borders Tajikistan’s northern Sughd region and features a Tajik exclave, Vorukh. The same area is famous for its jigsaw-puzzle political and ethnic geography and became the site of similar hostilities last year, also nearly leading to a war.

Clashes over the poorly demarcated border are frequent, but usually de-escalate quickly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan called the border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan a matter of concern and expressed sorrow over the deaths.

"These clashes have also created problems for civilians on both sides, especially on the Kyrgyz side, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee."

“The Islamic Emirate calls on both sides to resolve the border dispute through talks and understanding as continuation of clashes can have a negative impact on the security and stability of the entire region.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that people on both sides of the border should not be forced to sacrifice and flee their homes.

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