Death toll in Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border conflict rises to 71

By: News Team

Published on:

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan said on Sunday the death toll from their border conflict had risen to 71, as a fragile ceasefire between Central Asian nations and their mutual ally held for a second day. Russia urged a de-escalation.

The former Soviet republics clashed over a border dispute between September 14 and 16, accusing each other of using tanks, mortars, rockets and drones to attack nearby outposts and settlements.

On Sunday, Kyrgyzstan reported 36 deaths in the early fighting and said it had evacuated some 137,000 people from the conflict zone. Meanwhile, Tajikistan reported that 35 people died, but has not reported any mass evacuation from the area.

The parties agreed to a ceasefire on September 16, which has largely held despite several alleged incidents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Sunday with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmon, according to the Kremlin.

Putin urged the parties to avoid further escalation and to take steps to resolve the situation “exclusively by peaceful, political and diplomatic means as soon as possible,” offering help, his office said in a statement.

Leave a Comment