BISHKEK, July 10. /ITAR-TASS/. Tajikistan’s border guards opened mortar and grenade fire at the Kyrgyzstani border checkpoint Tamdyk located in the adjacent area, the press service of Kyrgyzstan’s Border Guard Service told ItTAR-TASS on Thursday.
“Violating all the norms of international law, Tajikistani border guards for a second time per day shelled from mortars and grenade launchers our border guards stationed at the Tamdyk checkpoint,” the press service said.
The latest reports say that the two states’ border officials are expected to arrive at the scene, although no casualties have been reported.
“After the incident, units on the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been put on to full combat duty,” Kyrgyzstani border guard service said adding, that to avert the conflict escalation, it had suspended traffic on the Ak-Sai-Tamdyl automobile road.
Another incident took place in that area in the morning. It saw an exchange of fire between the border guards of the two countries.
“Tajiks’ illegal actions provoked the conflict,” the press service said.
At the same time, Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry said that the incident in the Isfara district involved both Tajikistani local residents and Kyrgyzstani border guards. The dispute on land property sparked off the conflict, the local authorities claim.
The Interior Ministry said one Tajik national was killed and another five wounded in the shootout.