Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have reportedly pulled back military reinforcement from the flashpoint – Tajik village of Ovchi-Qalacha and Kyrgyz village of Maksat – yesterday by 22:15 pm.
An official source at the Sughd law enforcement authorities says the current situation on this stretch of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border is calm. “The border is open for proceeding to both sides,” the source said.
Meanwhile, negotiations that have brought together representatives of border agencies of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, governments of Sughd (Tajikistan) and Batken (Kyrgyzstan) provinces and other relevant bodies are continuing in the Tajik northern city of Isfara for already second day.
They are discussing the issue of stoppage of construction by Kyrgyzstan of a checkpoint in a non-demarcated area.
A reliable source in the Chorkuh jamoat, which subordinate to Isfara City, says the Kyrgyz authorities are continuing to build the checkpoint in the so-called Dacha area, where a teahouse of Chorkuh farm had previously been located. This area is located on the road connecting Isfara and Vorukh, Tajikistan’s exclave surrounded by Kyrgyzstan.
“They intend to control the road leading to the Vorukh jamoat in the future as well. The checkpoint iis being built on the Khoja Alo – Vorukh section,” said the source. “Meanwhile, the construction of this checkpoint contradicts to the interstate agreements. This section of the road is located in the disputable area and it is prohibited to build any facilities on this section of the road.”
According to him, the negotiations are continuing.
Recall, first deputy representative of the Kyrgyz government in the Batken region, Kenesh Salikhov, had earlier stated that the Kyrgyz side had not violated the bilateral agreements on that issue.
“Works on asphalting a section of the Aksai-Tamdyk road are going on. The Tajik side considers that the works are being carried out illegally, but the works are being carried out in Kyrgyz territory. Besides, the Kyrgyz side is constructing a checkpoint in the Dacha area. An appropriate letter on this issue has been sent,” Salikhov was quoted as saying by Kyrgyz online news agency Turmush.kg on September 16.
