Bishkek : Kyrgyz At least 36 people have been killed in recent border clashes with Tajikistan, the health ministry said on Sunday, raising its earlier figures of violence between the Central Asian neighbours.
“The total number of dead as a result of armed conflict in the (Kyrgyz) Batken region is 36,” the ministry said in a statement, and another 134 were injured.
The previous toll given by the ministry was 24 killed.
Tajiko The Home Ministry said on Saturday that civilians had been killed in the clashes, but did not give any figures.
Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Friday but have since accused it of breaching it.
Kyrgyz border officials said on Sunday morning that the night passed “quietly, without incident”, after more clashes on Saturday.
“The country’s leadership is taking all measures in a peaceful manner to stabilize the situation, prevent attempts to escalate tensions,” border officials said.
United Nations Secretary-General on Saturday Antonio Guterres “Called the leadership of both sides to engage in negotiations for a permanent ceasefire,” a spokesman said.
Border disputes have plagued the former Soviet republics through their three decades of independence, with almost half of their 970-kilometre-long (600 mi) border yet to be demarcated.
Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are part of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) But they collide regularly.
Russia The U.S. has urged both countries to de-escalate tensions and said it stands ready to help them find “long-term” solutions to border issues.
In 2021, unprecedented clashes between the two sides killed at least 50 people and raised fears of a major conflict.
“The total number of dead as a result of armed conflict in the (Kyrgyz) Batken region is 36,” the ministry said in a statement, and another 134 were injured.
The previous toll given by the ministry was 24 killed.
Tajiko The Home Ministry said on Saturday that civilians had been killed in the clashes, but did not give any figures.
Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on Friday but have since accused it of breaching it.
Kyrgyz border officials said on Sunday morning that the night passed “quietly, without incident”, after more clashes on Saturday.
“The country’s leadership is taking all measures in a peaceful manner to stabilize the situation, prevent attempts to escalate tensions,” border officials said.
United Nations Secretary-General on Saturday Antonio Guterres “Called the leadership of both sides to engage in negotiations for a permanent ceasefire,” a spokesman said.
Border disputes have plagued the former Soviet republics through their three decades of independence, with almost half of their 970-kilometre-long (600 mi) border yet to be demarcated.
Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are part of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) But they collide regularly.
Russia The U.S. has urged both countries to de-escalate tensions and said it stands ready to help them find “long-term” solutions to border issues.
In 2021, unprecedented clashes between the two sides killed at least 50 people and raised fears of a major conflict.