The number of Tajik citizens killed during the April 28-29 clashes along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border has been updated.
A source within the Sughd administration told Asia-Plus on the basis of anonymity that 19 Tajik nationals, including eight border guards and one OMON (special police unit) officer, were killed in the recent unrest.
Besides, 88 Tajik citizens were reportedly wounded during the April 28-29 clashes on the border.
“In the days of the unrest, 64 people were taken to the Isfara central city hospital and 24 others were taken to hospitals in Bobojon-Ghafourov district. Most of them sustained gunshot wounds,” the source said.
According to him, almost half of the victims were discharged, but there are wounded persons in serious condition.
“One wounded person, who is now in the intensive care unit of the Isfara central city hospital, is in serious condition,” the source added.
Meanwhile, official Dushanbe has not yet disclosed the number of persons killed and wounded in the recent border clashes.
Recall, the clashes broke out last week along the border between Tajikistan's Sughd province and Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken region because of a dispute over a water distribution facility located in the upper reaches of the Isfara River, which both countries claim as their own.
Villagers from opposing sides hurled rocks at each other on April 28 and border guards joined the fray with assault rifles, machine guns and mortars on April 29.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan agreed a complete ceasefire on May 1 after the worst violence in decades along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border that killed 55 people. The chiefs of the security agencies of Tajikistan (Saymumin Yatimov) and Kyrgyzstan (Kamchybek Tashiyev) heading the country’s delegations signed the protocol on ceasefire and withdrawal of troops.
The border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.
Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan began in 2002. The countries share 976 kilometers of border – of which only 504 kilometers has reportedly been properly delineated, leading to tensions for the past 30 years.
