DUSHANBE
, April 24, Asia-Plus – The authorities of
Tajikistan
have no confirmation Uzbek troops have begun a mine-clearing operation along the northern and western stretches of the Uzbek-Tajik border, Tajik border service first deputy chief, Safarali Sayfulloyev told journalists on April 21.
According to him, official
Tashkent
has never notified
Tajikistan
of the beginning of mine-clearing operations at
Uzbekistan
’s common border with
Tajikistan
.
Sayfulloyev recalled that
Uzbekistan
had begun to plant landmines along its border with
Tajikistan
in 1999.
Uzbekistan
then argued there was a risk of penetrations by gangs of international terrorists. At the same time the Tajik border official said that civilians were the mines’ victims in most cases. 69 people have been killed and 50 others have been injured in landmine explosions on the Tajik-Uzbek border since 1999.
