Kyrgyzstan has warned of mine clearance on its border with Tajikistan

20 September 2022



Demining activities on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border territory will be conducted from September 20. This was reported on Tuesday by the Border Service of the State Committee of National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan.


"Starting from September 20, there will be work to detect, clean and dispose of unexploded shells, mines, ammunition and other explosive devices on the Kyrgyz-Tajik section of the state border in the Chon-Alay district of Osh province and in Batken province," the report reads.


As it is specified, the places where demining works will be carried out, will be cordoned off and taken under guard.


The situation on the border between the two countries escalated on September 14. According to the Kyrgyz side, Tajik border guards entered the border section of Batken district of Batken region of Kyrgyzstan and "took combat positions." In response to a demand to leave the territory, the Tajik border guards opened fire, followed by an exchange of fire. A few hours later armed clashes also occurred in the Kak-Sai and Pasky-Aryk areas of Batken region. On September 17, the Kyrgyz border guard service reported firing at a border section of Osh province.


Kyrgyz authorities evacuated about 140,000 citizens from border villages.


The Kyrgyz State Border Guard Service had not reported any new incidents since the 18th, and on September 19, the heads of the two countries' State National Security Committees signed a protocol on withdrawal of troops from the border and establishing peace. On the Kyrgyz side, 59 people were killed and more than 180 injured in the conflict.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic world"

Photo: genejeter/unsplash

Based on materials from TASS