Elders from border villages of Tajikistan’s Sughd province and Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region met at the end last week to discuss issues of strengthening friendly relations between the residents of border areas.
A resident of the Tajik village of Khoja-Alo, Asror Shokirov, who participated in the meeting, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the meeting had been held in the area, where the latest clashes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards took place on January 27.
According to him, the meeting was held at the initiative of residents of Kyrgyz villages and dozens of residents of border villages and representatives of law enforcement authorities of the two countries participated in that meeting.
“Our Kyrgyz neighbors have proposed to invite elders from the Tajik villages of Khoja-Al and Somoniyon. They said they were tired of escapes, wars, conflicts and called on our elders to have a heart-to-heart. We have agreed because no one needs this war and it will be good if we understand each other,” Shokirov said.
According to him, Tajik elders have proposed to invite more elders and young people from Kyrgyz villages of Oktatir, Ak-Sai and Samarkandak and the Tajik villages of Chorkuh, Somoniyon, Khoja-Alo and Vorukh to the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan’s news agency Turmush says the meeting that brought together elders from the Kyrgyz villages of Kok-Tash, Ak-Sai and Tash-Tumshuk as well as the Tajik villages of Somoniyon and Mayskiy took place on February 4.
The chief of Batken police department Almazbek Shagamurzyev, the chief of Isfara-2 police department Anvar Rahmanzoda and the chief of the Vorukh police department Subhan Miralizoda also attended the meeting.
The meeting reportedly took place to strengthen friendly relations between residents of border villages, providing security and maintaining a stable situation in border areas
As it had been reported earlier, the latest border clashes that took place between the border guards of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on January 27 left at least two people dead and many more wounded.
As usual, both countries accused each other of starting the clashes.
According to a statement released the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS), the Kyrgyz side fired at Tajik “residents, vehicles, and facilities.”
Kyrgyzstan’s security officials said the conflict started when Tajik citizens blocked a road crossing the disputed segment of the border.
