Turkey calls for dialogue to resolve the conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Appeal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country says.
«We hope that these tensions between the two friendly and brotherly countries will be stopped immediately, without any escalation, and that the problems will be resolved peacefully through dialogue,» the Foreign Ministry of Turkey said.
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. The Ministry of Health reported 24 killed and 87 wounded. 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.
