One Tajik civilian was killed, authorities say Kyrgyz authorities are evacuating villages The presidents of the two countries participate in the summit
BISHKEK, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have accused each other of using heavy weaponry such as tanks and mortars in an escalating border conflict that has killed at least three people and wounded 27 since fighting broke out two days ago . Kyrgyzstan’s border service said Tajik forces once again opened fire on several of its outposts early Friday in a disputed mountainous border area with Tajik forces using tanks, armored personnel carriers and mortars. read more In turn, Tajikistan has accused Kyrgyz forces of shelling an outpost and seven villages with “heavy weaponry” in the same region, which is famous for its political and ethnic geography and was the scene of similar hostilities last year, almost leading to war. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up One civilian was killed and three wounded, authorities in the Tajik city of Isfara said. Kyrgyzstan reported 31 injuries overnight in southern Batken province, which borders Tajikistan’s northern Sughd region and includes a Tajik enclave of Vorukh, a flashpoint of recent clashes. Kyrgyz authorities said they were evacuating nearby villages as “intense fighting” raged. The foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have discussed the issue, the Bishkek government said, but the border guard agency said two ceasefire agreements have already failed. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon are both attending a regional security summit in Uzbekistan and are pictured among the leaders in a group photo taken at the dinner on Thursday. Clashes over the poorly demarcated border between the two former Soviet republics are frequent but usually de-escalate quickly, although last year they almost erupted into all-out war. Both host Russian military bases and have close ties to Moscow, which called for a cessation of hostilities this week. The Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led security bloc whose members include Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, said its leadership was in contact with both governments on Friday. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Reported by Olga Dzyubenko. Additional reporting by Nazarali Pirnazarov in Dushanbe. Written by Olzhas Auyezov. Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Guy Faulconbridge and Frank Jack Daniel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
