BISHKEK, September 19. /TASS/: Chiefs of the Kyrgyz and Tajik National Security Committees have signed a protocol on the stabilization of the situation on the border and the establishment of peace between the two countries, Turmush agency said on Monday, citing chief of Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Committee Kamchybek Tashiyev.
"We have signed a protocol with Tajikistan. It key goal is to stabilize the situation and establish peace between the two countries, and to take steps to settle the situation. I signed it for the Kyrgyz side and Chairman of Tajikistan’s National Security Committee Saimumim Yatimov signed it for the Tajik side," the agency quoted him as saying.
According to the Kyrgyz security chief, the situation in the Batken region is stabilizing. He also said that another meeting is planned for Tuesday evening.
The situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border flared up on September 14. The Kyrgyz side said that on Wednesday Tajik border guards had penetrated into a border section near Bulak-Bashy in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region and "took combat positions." In response to a demand to leave the area, the Tajik border guards opened fire triggering a shootout. Several hours later, armed clashes were reported in the areas of Kak-Sai and Paksy-Aryk. On September 17, Kyrgyzstan’s Border Service said that the Osh section of the border came under shelling.
Since September 18, the Kyrgyz border guard service has reported no new incidents. Law enforcement services of the two countries launched joint patrols along the border.
According to the latest update, 59 Kyrgyz nationals were killed and 144 more were wounded. About 140,000 people were evacuated from Kyrgyz settlements located near the border. An state of emergency has been declared in the Batken Region. Monday is a national day of mourning in Kyrgyzstan.
