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No additional measures taken in Uzbekistan amid deterioration in Afghanistan — ministry

Last week, the Uzbek foreign ministry reported two cases when Afghan border guards and local self-defense troops had crossed into Uzbekistan’s territory

TASHKENT, July 5. /TASS/. Uzbekistan’s defense ministry told TASS on Monday it is taking no additional measures amid the deterioration of the situation in neighboring Afghanistan.

"Army units are conducting regular training. No additional measures are being taken in connection to the situation in Afghanistan. All information of this matter can be found on the defense ministry’s official website," a ministry’s spokesman said.

However, the Uzbek defense ministry organized a snap combat readiness check in the Tashkent and Southwestern military districts. It was reported that Defense Minister Bakhodir Kurbanov personally inspected army units deployed near the Uzbek-Afghan border.

Uzbek and Tajik Presidents, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rakhmon, spoke over the phone earlier on Monday as well as last Thursday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. They exchanged views on the situation on the border with Afghanistan and discussed issues of regional cooperation.

According to the local media, citing local residents, a tent camp has been pitched near the city of Termez to accommodate refugees from Afghanistan allegedly.

Last week, the Uzbek foreign ministry reported two cases when Afghan border guards and local self-defense troops had crossed into Uzbekistan’s territory. According to the ministry, these people later returned to Afghanistan after necessary formalities and a probe. The ministry warned that any attempts to illegally cross the Uzbek border would be thwarted and the strict measures would be taken against border violators.

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