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Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree on joint probe of armed border conflict

BISHKEK, January 12, /ITAR-TASS/. An armed conflict that sparked up on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border between several border guards of the two countries is localized, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Toktokuchuk Mamytov in charge of defence, security and the law and order in the Central Asian republic said at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev in the Kyrgyz capital. The meeting was devoted to the current situation in Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan.

“The medical aid is being given to wounded border guards. I had a telephone conversation with Tajik counterpart Murodali Alimardon, we agreed to conduct a joint investigation of the border incident,” the republican governmental press service quoted Mamytov as saying. The clash broke out between several border guards of the countries on January 11 near settlement Ak-Say in Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan. Six Kyrgyz servicemen were wounded in the shootout. “Two of them are in an extremely grave condition, two others are in a heavy condition,” the Kyrgyz Health Ministry told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Chief of Staff of the Kyrgyz Border Service Iskenderbek Mambetaliyev and Deputy Interior Minister Kursan Asanov went to the border incident site to investigate the clash, the press service of the Kyrgyz government said.

“The prime minister instructed the law enforcement agencies at the meeting to toughen border patrolling and ordered Batken regional authorities to do broad explanatory work among local residents, seeking to preserve public order and prevent the current conflict from escalating,” the governmental press service reported. “The prime minister instructed the republican Foreign Ministry to prepare a specific note to the Tajik Foreign Ministry,” the press service said.