The Organization of Turkic States condemns the aggression with the use of heavy weapons against civilians, civilian infrastructure, including schools. Office of the organization said in a statement.
The OTC Secretary General, expressing deep concern about the ongoing armed conflicts on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border, calls for an immediate ceasefire and settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means at the negotiating table.
«The Organization of Turkic States condemns the attack with the use of heavy military weapons on the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, including schools, and calls for immediate steps in the framework of maximum restraint in resolving the incident and de-escalating tensions by available peaceful means,» the statement says.
Shooting began at several sites of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the morning of September 16. According to the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security, at about 6 a.m. the Tajik side started firing at the border detachments and positions of the Kyrgyz side. Later, the Tajik side began mortar shelling of border outposts and border villages in Leilek and Batken districts. Shooting continues for the fourth day since September 14. About 87 people were wounded, casualties reported. As a result of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, residents of seven villages in Batken and Leilek districts, as well as from Dzhekendi village in Chon-Alai district of Osh region, left their homes.
The Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic made an official statement that the heads of the security services of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Kamchybek Tashiev and Saimumin Yatimov, agreed to ceasefire at 4 p.m. Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon also agreed to ceasefire. The Kyrgyz side completely stopped firing, while the Tajik side reduced intensity. But, according to the latest data from the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, the Tajik side opened fire again.
