DUSHANBE, July 24, 2012, Asia-Plus – The government forces are reportedly continuing to incur losses in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (Gorno Badakhshan or GBAO).
BBC’s Russian Service reports that according to the preliminary data, some 100 government troops have been killed as they were taking part in a special operation targeting a group suspected of involvement in the killing of the chief of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s office in Gorno Badakhshan, Major-General Abdullo Nazarov.
Eight servicemen have been taken to the military hospital in Dushanbe and the military hospital in Dushanbe is reportedly making preparations for receiving some 60 other wounded soldiers.
Meanwhile, a source at the Tajik power-wielding sources told Asia-Plus Tuesday afternoon that the special operation in Khorog has entered the final phase. “Militants have been encircled by the government forces and they cannot go to the territory of the contiguous state,” the source said.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports Tolib Ayombekov, the leader of the group suspected of involvement in the murder of Abdullo Nazarov, has fled to Afghanistan. According to RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, one of sons of Tolib Ayombekov has been killed in the operation.
Reports also say employees of international humanitarian bodies were evacuated to safer locations, and local residents were told not to go to work on July 24.
