Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed to remove four border checkpoints each, located in the zone of armed conflict on the border of the two states. This was reported on Sunday by the Border Guard Service (BGS) of the State Committee of National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier today, the heads of special services of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Kamchybek Tashiyev and Saimumin Yatimov, signed a protocol on stabilizing the situation on the border of the two countries.
According to the ministry, during the meeting it was decided "to remove and henceforth not to put any type of border protection units" at four Kyrgyz border checkpoints and four Tajik ones, which are located in the area of the fighting that took place. "The buildings and facilities of these units will be mothballed. The protection of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border will be carried out by mobile border guard units, which will follow strictly along the routes specified and agreed upon," the Kyrgyz BGS said in its statement.
In addition, an agreement to install surveillance cameras on a parity basis in areas with frequent conflicts was reached. At the same time, local authorities of both countries must provide "agricultural work by citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on previously used plots of land."
The protocol also provides for continuing the work of a joint working group "on the withdrawal of troops and heavy military equipment, additional forces and means from the border territories to the places of their permanent deployment." At present, the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik section of the state border is "characterized as stable."
The situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border escalated on September 14. According to the Kyrgyz side, Tajik border guards entered the area of Bulak-Bashy in Batken district of Batken region of Kyrgyzstan and "took combat positions." In response to their demand to leave the area, the Tajik border guards opened fire, followed by an exchange of fire. On September 17, the Kyrgyz border service reported firing in the Osh region. Since September 18, the Kyrgyz border guard service had not reported any new incidents, and on September 19, the heads of the two countries' national security committees signed a protocol on withdrawal of troops from the border and establishing peace. On the Kyrgyz side, 62 people were killed and about 200 injured as a result of the conflict.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Based on materials from TASS