At least 100 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in the deadliest clashes in years on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border.
Clashes erupted around the border of the two Central Asian states on Wednesday, with both sides accusing each other of the outbreak of violence. Both sides are reportedly using tanks, mortars, rocket artillery, and drones — at times, against civilian settlements as well.
A fragile cease-fire was imposed later on Friday, holding use of ammunition to some degree, but “provocative statements” on the internet continue from both sides.
Border disputes regularly erupt between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, mainly due to tensions over land, roads, and water resources. The ex-Soviet republics, which got independence from the USSR in the 90s, share a 970-kilometer-long border, with more than half of the frontier being disputed.
Kyrgyzstan reported 13 additional deaths on Sunday, taking the total death toll to 59, while more than 100 people are reportedly injured. According to the Kyrgyz media, over 137,000 people had been evacuated from conflict areas. Some people have already started returning to their homes, local media claimed.
President Japarov told the Kyrgyz nation on Monday that they were fully capable of providing support to the soldiers and the displaced citizens. “We also have funds for the rapid reconstruction of homes,” he added.
Tajikistan, meanwhile, confirmed the killing of 35 citizens, while at least 20 have been injured. Tajikistan has not reported any mass evacuations.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has urged Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon to de-escalate, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
Putin “called on the parties to prevent further escalation and to take steps to resolve the situation as soon as possible, and this only through peaceful and political and diplomatic means,” it said.
Skirmishes on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border in 2021 led to major fighting, killing almost 50 people.