“Twenty-four bodies of those killed were taken to public health organizations of the Batken region (in Kyrgyzstan’s south, near the border with Tajikistan),” it wrote on its Facebook account (outlawed in Russia as belonging to Meta corporation, which is recognized extremist organization). According to the ministry, as many as 129 people were taken to hospitals.
According to the Kyrgyz side, its border units in the areas of Eki-Tash, Chyr-Dobo, Kum-Mazar, Kulundu, Maksat, Zhany-Zher and Orto-Boz as well as at the Samarkandek outpost came under fire from Tajik territory on Friday morning. The regional center of Batken and its airport were fired upon from multiple rocket launchers.
An emergency situation regime was introduced in Batken region based on the order of the head of the Civil Protection, authorized representative Abdikarim Alimbaev dated September 16, 2022, the Press Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.
Shooting began at several sites of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the morning of September 16. Settlements in Leilek and Batken district came under fire. As a result of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, residents of seven villages in Batken and Leilek districts, as well as Dzhekendi village in Chon-Alai district of Osh region, left their homes.
Aftermath of Tajikistan’s military invasion of Kyrgyzstan
The resident of the village of Jany Jer, Leilek district of Batken region, Sairagul Toktonazarova, has shared the photos of empty streets and houses after Tajikistan’s military invasion.
“During previous invasion, these stores were burnt. This time newly built houses were set on fire,” she said.
The photos were posted by Sairagul Toktonazarov in the evening of September 17.
Tajikistan attacked Kulundu, Maksat and Jany-Jer villages of Leilek district, Batken region in the morning of September 16.
The situation remained tense on September 17. Tajikistan shelled the border villages of Chon Alay district of Osh region.
Tajikistan uses heavy weaponry, multiple launch rocket systems and aviation in its invasion.
Over 142,000 were evacuated from Batken region and Chon Alay district of Osh region to safe places.
Tajik military destroyes a bridge inside Kyrgyz teritory.
Tajikistan soldiers have bombed 36-meter-long bridge across the Ak-Suu river in Batken region on the 7th km of the Kok-Tash-Ak-Sai-Tamdyk road, Ministry of Transport reported.
Road construction machinery used in repair and construction of roads remained in the border conflict zone on September 16.
“It is impossible to evacuate or obtain any information about condition of remained machinery and equipment due to extremely tense situation on the border,” said the report.
Tajikistan’s Irregular Paramilitaries Participated In Hostilities
BISHKEK, September 17. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev has told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that irregular paramilitaries had been participating in the recent clashes on the Tajik side.
“Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev has drawn the attention of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the fact that the Kyrgyz side took decisive retaliatory measures solely for the purpose of self-defense and protection of its sovereign territory from an unprovoked invasion by the Tajik army and irregular paramilitary groups,” Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a news release on Saturday.
The UN Secretary-General’s press service reported that in a telephone conversation Guterres said he was following the situation with deep concern and stressed the inadmissibility of a further aggravation of the conflict, as well as the importance of its speedy settlement through a constructive peaceful dialogue.
He also confirmed his readiness for a face-to-face meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov in New York on September 20.
Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon agreed on Friday to ceasefire. But, according to the latest data from the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, the Tajik side violated the agreements again.