Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan discuss settlement of border conflict
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan discussed ways of settling the conflict situation, which was caused by a military incident on the border, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported.
Discussions were held during a telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Erlan Abdyldaev and Sirojiddin Aslov.
The telephone conversation was held at the initiative of Tajikistan.
The parties once again affirmed the need for a joint investigation into the incident, which should result in taking appropriate measures against the perpetrators, who provoked the conflict.
The ministers also discussed further steps to resolve the conflict.
Abdyldaev drew his colleague's attention to the fact that the Kyrgyz side expects full response from the Tajik side to all the questions shown in the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry's notes regarding the incident.
An armed incident occurred between the servicemen of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan and border troops of the Tajik State National Security Committee near the main water intake structure of Batken region in Kyrgyzstan's Batken province on January 11.
Officials say five Kyrgyz border guards, one policeman, and three Tajik border guards were hospitalized with injuries after shootouts along the border.
Following the incident, Kyrgyzstan has closed its border with Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan has recalled its ambassador to Dushanbe.