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2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes

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A three-day border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began on 28 April 2021. The clashes stemmed from a long-running dispute over a water supply facility near the village of Kök-Tash.[10] Tajik media raised some concern over military drills in Batken prior to the conflict.[11]

2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes
Part of the post-Soviet conflicts

Map showing the borders between Kyrgyzstan (red) and Tajikistan (orange)
Date28 April – 1 May 2021[1] (3 days)
Location
Kök-Tash, Batken, Batken District, Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border
Result Ceasefire[1]
Belligerents
 Kyrgyzstan  Tajikistan
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Casualties and losses
3 killed (per Kyrgyzstan)[5] 9 killed (per Tajikistan)[6]
11 killed (per RFE/RL)[7]
1 BTR-70 destroyed[8][4]
33 Kyrgyzstani and 10 Tajikistani civilians killed
190 Kyrgyzstani and 87 Tajikistani civilians injured[a]

Timeline

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Pre-ceasefire

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April

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Batken Region in Kyrgyzstan.

On 28 April, forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border between Kök-Tash and Khojai A'lo, started the clashes, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injuries.[12][13] The initial clashes were fought with fists and thrown stones, but quickly escalated to gunfire, with reports of heavy weaponry.[14] The following day clashes resumed, with reported incidents in the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Terek and some other villages in the Batken and Leylek Districts,[15] and with at least 41 people killed from both sides and roughly 10,000 people evacuated.[16][17] The same day the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to a ceasefire at the border.[18] On 30 April, Tajikistan acknowledged the ceasefire in a statement published by its state information service.[19] The ceasefire was broken twice by Tajiks during the conflict, however, including the night of 29 April.[20]

May

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Leilek District (in red) in Kyrgyzstan.

On 1 May, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a decree that declares a two-day nationwide mourning,[21] accusing Tajikistan of building-up troops and military equipment on the border. The Kyrgyz side also accused Tajik forces of opening fire on Kyrgyz vehicles in the area, while a Tajik spokesman speaking from Dushanbe said that the country was sticking to the ceasefire and pull-out of troops.[22] Musurmanbek Tursumatov, representative of the regional administrator of the Batken Region, said that Tajik forces had blocked the Osh-Batken-Isfana road to Vorukh despite the ceasefire coming into effect.[23] That same day both countries also agreed to a new ceasefire[24] following minor new border clashes, which includes withdrawing troops from the border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged both countries to honor the new agreement.[25][26]

On 2 May, around 33,388 civilians in Kyrgyzstan were evacuated from the Batken Region near the border.[27] The Kyrgyz Ministry of the Interior and Tajikistan report that the situation at the border is stable and calm. Nonetheless, an unexploded air-to-land rocket was later discovered at a house near the border in Batken.[28]

On 3 May, both countries completed the withdrawal of troops from the border.[29] The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon also ordered that all residential buildings destroyed in Chorku be restored.[30] On 6 May, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that 136 houses and 84 facilities in the Batken region have been destroyed.[31] On 10 May, citizens in the Batken region returned home for the first time since evacuating the region.[32] On 18 May, officials in both countries announced that they had agreed to joint security controls along disputed border.[33]

Post-ceasefire

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July

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On 9 July, despite the ceasefire, a clash between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards killed one Kyrgyz serviceman.[34] According to the Kyrgyz side, their patrol unit on horseback was fired upon by the Tajiks in Leylek.[35]

Casualties

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During the four-day conflict, at least 55 people were confirmed killed: 36 died in Kyrgyzstan and 19 in Tajikistan. At least 163 people were wounded in Kyrgyzstan. More than 33,000 people had been evacuated from the area where fighting was taking place.[27][16][17]

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and Social Development stated that overall both military and civilian were killed in the clashes. It also stated that most of the dead and wounded were civilians. Some of the civilian deaths occurred when Kyrgyz villagers fled their homes in panic under Tajik mortar fire. Among the killed were a sixth-grader girl and her mother, who, according to Kyrgyz reports, were shot.[36] On 3 May, the death toll for Kyrgyzstan reached to 36 after a 4-year-old boy named Abidin Tursunbaev was killed. Tajikistan also admitted that there are deaths on their side in clashes.[37][38] On 4 May, the number of Tajiks killed at the border increased to 19, including eight border guards and one OMON (special police unit) officer.[39] On 5 May, the death toll during the clashes reached to 55.[40] On 27 January 2022, clashes resumed that resulted in the deaths of 2 people, further adding to the number of casualties.

War crimes

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On 30 April 2021, Human Rights Watch reported that armed Tajiks in civilian clothing had burned down all 17 houses in the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Terek, and 135 houses in Marksat, Arka, International and other 2 villages were destroyed and burnt by Tajik military. The local unprotected population was under mortar and artillery fire. Leilek District. The Kyrgyz authorities also stated that a school was burned.[15] On 2 May, the Kyrgyzstan Interior Ministry launched 11 criminal probe investigations into the events on the border.[41] On 3 May, the prosecutor general's office of Tajikistan launched a criminal investigation into servicemen and citizens of Kyrgyzstan for "unleashing an aggressive war".[42] The Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office filed a case on the crime against the peace on 30 April and accused the Tajikistan Armed Forces of invading the country and seizing their sovereign territory.[43]

International reactions

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UN-member states

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  •   Russia: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the need that the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reach a lasting agreement to prevent new border clashes. It called on the parties to "achieve, through negotiations in the spirit of partnership and good neighbour policy, a sustainable and lasting agreement that will normalize the situation and take measures to prevent such incidents."[44] Neighbouring Uzbekistan offered to assist in mediating the conflict.[45] Turkey also said that it would provide assistance to both countries.[46]
  •   Iran: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Iran is worriedly following fighting between the two friendly and brotherly countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and offer assistance to advance negotiations.[48]

Supranational organizations

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The European Union welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached on 30 April, and expressed regret over the violence, as well as sympathy to those who had lost relatives or friends.[52]

The Secretary-General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev stated that "... the Turkic Council calls on the parties to continue exercising caution and take joint measures to stabilize the situation by refraining from any actions that may lead to further escalation of tension", and added it will continue maintaining its close contact with the "Government of brotherly Kyrgyzstan", a founding member of the Turkic Council.[53]

Non-governmental

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Kyrgyzstanis in Germany and the United Kingdom organized rallies and protests at Tajikistani embassies. Additionally, citizens living in San Francisco protested in support of Batken and call for international institutions to bring President Rahmon to justice.[54]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Kyrgyzstani casualties per Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistani casualties per Tajikistan[5][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree ceasefire after border clashes". Reuters. 1 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Таджикский генерал милиции стал фигурантом уголовного дела в Киргизии". Interfax (in Russian). 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ "После конфликта. Как выглядит стратегический водозабор «Головной» сегодня". 24.KG (in Russian). 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2024. Местность охраняют сотрудники отдела специального назначения «Шер» Внутренних войск МВД.
  4. ^ a b "Конфликт без посредников. Кто выиграл от войны на границе Киргизии и Таджикистана". Carnegie Moscow Center (in Russian). 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2024. В СМИ и в соцсетях много видеодоказательств того, что армия Таджикистана заранее вырыла окопы и пригнала к границам всю свою мощь: танки Т-72, вертолеты Ми-24, которые сбрасывали неуправляемые авиационные ракеты С-5, бронетранспортеры БТР-70, гранатометы РПГ-7
  5. ^ a b "В Киргизии сообщили о еще одном пострадавшем в конфликте с Таджикистаном". Interfax (in Russian). 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  6. ^ "СМИ сообщили о гибели 19 таджикистанцев в апрельском конфликте с Киргизией". Interfax (in Russian). 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Число жертв приграничного конфликта с таджикской стороны достигло 20. ВИДЕО". Radio Ozodi (in Russian). 5 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Вооруженное столкновение на границе Киргизии и Таджикистана — трансляция". REGNUM News Agency (in Russian). 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2024. Первое фото уничтоженной в ходе эскалации на киргизско-таджикской границе бронетехники. БТР-70, предположительно, ВС Таджикистана, который был поражён огнём сопредельной стороны.
  9. ^ "Таджикистан обнародовал списки погибших и раненных в конфликте с Киргизией". Interfax (in Russian). 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  10. ^ Imanaliyeva, Ayzirek; Ibragimova, Kamila; Leonard, Peter (29 April 2022). "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan forces exchange gunfire in worst border flareup in years". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Kyrgyz president attends Security 2021 and Formation South 2021 military exercises". Информационное Агентство Кабар.
  12. ^ "Four die as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan armies clash on disputed border". The Guardian. Associated Press. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  13. ^ Nadirov, Bahmanjor (29 April 2021). "Погранвойска Таджикистана: Кыргызстан оккупировал водораспределительный пункт и провоцирует конфликт | Новости Таджикистана ASIA-Plus". asiaplustj.info. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  14. ^ Putz, Catherine (4 May 2021). "Violent Clashes at the Troublesome Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  15. ^ a b Pedneault, Jonathan; Sultanalieva, Syinat (30 April 2021). "Civilians Harmed in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Border Clashes". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan: Images of destruction after border clashes". BBC News. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Over 40 dead in Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border clash". The Bharat Express. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree to ceasefire". TASS. 29 April 2021. Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to a ceasefire at the border starting on 20:00 local time (17:00 Moscow time) April 29, Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
  19. ^ "Deadly fighting on Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border kills at least 31". BBC News. 30 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Cease-Fire Between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Holding After Deadly Border Clashes". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  21. ^ "Kyrgyzstan declares two-day nationwide mourning for border clash victims". TASS.
  22. ^ "Kyrgyzstan accuses Tajikistan of amassing troops near border". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Kyrgyzstan accused neighbour Tajikistan on Saturday of building up troops and military equipment near their border, following clashes on Thursday in which 41 people were killed and more than a hundred wounded.
  23. ^ "Tajikistan blocks Osh-Batken-Isfana road, demands to reopen road to Vorukh enclave". AKIpress News Agency. 1 May 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. The Tajik side blocked Osh-Batken-Isfana road in Tort-Kocho area and demanded to reopen the road to Vorukh enclave, Batken region administration's representative Musurmanbek Tursumatov told Turmush. [...] The road was blocked since around 10.00 a.m. of May 1 despite the agreement reached on reopening of the road on April 30.
  24. ^ Auyezov, Olzhas; Dzyubenko, Olga; Pirnazarov, Nazarali (1 May 2021). "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree Ceasefire after Border Clashes". Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree Ceasefire after Border Clashes.
  25. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree new ceasefire after border clashes". www.aljazeera.com.
  26. ^ "Heads of Kyrgyz, Tajik national security committees agree to stop fire, withdraw troops". Trend.Az. 1 May 2021.
  27. ^ a b "33,388 Kyrgyzstanis evacuated from conflict zone in Batken". Trend.Az. 2 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Cease-Fire Said Holding After Worst Violence In Decades On Kyrgyz-Tajik Border". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  29. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan completing withdrawal of troops from border". news.am.
  30. ^ "Tajik leader orders to restore destroyed residential buildings in Chorkuh at the expense of the state | Tajikistan News ASIA-Plus". asiaplustj.info.
  31. ^ "136 houses and 84 objects destroyed. Damage to Batken being calculated". akipress.com.
  32. ^ "Batken evacuees return home". akipress.com. 10 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree To Joint Security Controls Along Disputed Border". RFERL. 18 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Kyrgyz border guard killed in shootout with Tajik forces". The Times of India. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Kyrgyz Soldier Dead After Latest Incident On Tajik Border". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Чек арадагы ок атуудан каза тапкандар 33 кишиге жетти" [The death toll from border shootings has risen to 33]. BBC News Кыргыз Кызматы (in Kyrgyz). 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Kyrgyzstan's death toll in Kyrgyz-Tajik border conflict rises to 36". akipress.com.
  38. ^ "In first admission, Tajikistan concedes deaths in recent clashes". www.aljazeera.com.
  39. ^ "The number of Tajiks killed in recent clashes along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border updated". Asia-Plus. 4 May 2021.
  40. ^ Abdülkerimov, Bahtiyar (5 May 2021). "Death toll rises to 55 from Kyrgyz-Tajik border clashes". www.aa.com.tr.
  41. ^ "Kyrgyz Interior Ministry launches 11 criminal probes into Kyrgyz-Tajik border events". akipress.com.
  42. ^ "Tajikistan launches criminal case against Kyrgyzstan for unleashing a war". news.am.
  43. ^ Kudajarov, Borubek (3 March 2021). "Генпрокуратура: Военные РТ вторглись в Кыргызстан с целью захвата территории". kaktus.media.
  44. ^ "Russia calls for calm between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan". plenglish.com.
  45. ^ "Kyrgyzstan evacuates thousands after Tajikistan clashes". Deutsche Welle. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  46. ^ Jamshaid, Umer (1 May 2021). "Turkey Ready To Assist Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan In Settling Border Conflict – Source". UrduPoint.
  47. ^ "Tokayev offers condolences to Japarov over border conflict victims". AKIpress. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  48. ^ "Spokesman's Reaction to Border Clashes between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan". 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Afghan foreign ministry statement". 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  50. ^ "Pakistan welcomes ceasefire agreement between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan". 3 May 2021.
  51. ^ Khan, Irfan (3 May 2021). "Pakistan welcomes ceasefire between Tajikistan, Kyrgyz".
  52. ^ Gotev, Georgi (30 April 2021). "EU 'regrets' violence on Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border". Euractive. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  53. ^ "Statement by the Secretary General of the Turkic Council on the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border". Turkic Council. 30 April 2021.
  54. ^ "Kyrgyz citizens abroad organize rallies in front of Tajik embassies". Информационное Агентство Кабар.
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