There is another incident on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. A 25-year-old Shukron Sharopova, who worked in her rice field, was wounded by a shot from neighboring territory. According to the press center of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan, the incident occurred in the area of the village of Chorkukh. A Tajik citizen with a serious wound was taken to hospital.
A Kyrgyz citizen, a resident of the village of Kuktosh, Aksaysky district, shot at the girl. The causes of the incident are being clarified. Nevertheless, Tajik security officials assessed: "This provocative action by a Kyrgyz citizen is regarded as an attempt to artificially destabilize the situation on the state border line, which could lead to a response from the border residents of the Republic of Tajikistan in this vulnerable zone." As noted in the department, at the scene, the relevant authorities conduct explanatory work among the population, to normalize the situation.
Recall, this is the third armed incident on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in the past month. (See. "Bulletin of the Caucasus" Kyrgyz and Tajiks shot each other on the eve of Victory Day). At first, firing was opened on Victory Day, and then on Ramadan. The border conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan lasts for many years due to unresolved land issues. At the beginning of the year, the parties were going to exchange territories, but then the negotiation process seemed to come to a standstill. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered Dushanbe and Bishkek assistance in resolving the conflict.
"A young woman was shot at this one, but there is no reason to accuse her or another resident of Tajikistan of violating the border. And the land where she worked is not in the disputed category. This is the farmland of the team number 14 of the Chorkuh seed farm, a former state farm “Ittifok.” A citizen of Kyrgyzstan Soat Bakhtibekov was shooting, not a military man, but a civilian. What could be the reason? Revenge for someone? Or an attempt to destabilize the situation? More likely, the second. Here’s the force interested in maintaining tension, ”said "Vestnik Kavkaza" Tajik expert Negmatullo Mirsaidov.
According to the expert, the local Tajiks, who have talked more than once with the Kyrgyz military, say that some of them recognize the efforts of activists of local Kyrgyz communities to rock the situation. Rumor has it that in Kok-Tash and Aksay there are many supporters of ex-presidents Almazbek Atambekov and Kurmanbek Bakiyev. These people are trying to use the situation in the border region to solve domestic political issues.
"It seems to some politicians that it’s all the same that a lot of blood can be shed on either side tomorrow, the Tajiks and the Kyrgyz will burn at home. I don’t think there will be a winner in this war. And they all think about power, their own influence, interests, I use the people, push neighbors, "said the expert. Mirsaidov believes that young people need to be reassured so that a working commission that deals with issues of territorial exchange can complete the work that has begun.
Several land exchange options are proposed. According to the Kyrgyz side, this is the Aryk-Asty section in the village of Kok-Tash in the Batken region and the village of May, in which Tajiks live. The second plot is land located in the area where the Kyrgyz village of Samarkandek and the Tajik Chorkuh border. The Tajik side has not yet commented on which sections are ready to exchange.
“You can’t see the end and edge of the earth, all the foothills are free.“ We won’t give an inch! ”- this is false patriotism. But can something that brings people trouble, grief and tears be considered patriotism? Think about it!” The expert called.
