Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border boils, 1 killed, 2 injured in fresh conflict

A new incident that could spark tensions between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan occurred on Wednesday at the border separating the countries. The clashes erupted a day before a regional security body meeting and in the backdrop of the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict and the Russian-Ukraine war.

What happened at the Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan border?
The fresh skirmishes occurred when the border guards of Kyrgyzstan accused their Tajik counterparts of taking positions at a place that had not been demarcated. Following this dispute, the border guards of both countries exchanged fire, resulting in the loss of one of the Tajik border guards and injuring another two.


The border guards of Tajikistan used mortars during the shoot-out near the village of Bulak-Bashi. On the other hand, Kyrgyzstan said that its two servicemen were injured, and one more exchange of fire occurred at a different border area. However, the two sides have started talks to resolve the conflict.

Is this the first such incident on the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan?
Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are allied with Russia and have Russian military bases. Border conflicts between these former Soviet republics are common. Last year's conflict almost resulted in an all-out war between the two nations.



Both countries will be attending a high-level security summit this week in Uzbekistan organised by the Shanghai Security Organization. The summit will also be attended by world leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others.

Climate change is another significant reason that puts stress on sharing water. The recent clashes showcase the decades of worsening relations between the two countries. Moreover, the pandemic has increased economic insecurity while the regional peacekeeping mechanisms have been in vain. Besides, sharing natural resources such as pasture ground for grazing animals and water for irrigation has caused multiple conflicts over the years.

FAQs

1. Who is the current President of Kyrgyzstan?
Ans. The current Kyrgyz President is Sadyr Japarov, who also served as Prime Minister earlier.

2. What is the dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2021?
Ans. The dispute between the two countries was over water at the border near Kok-Tash in the Batken region. The clash quickly spread across the border, killing over 50 people and displacing another 40,000.