Jump to content

2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Wording
using local (not Russian) name of region
Line 42: Line 42:
Kyrgyzstan officials said that on 14 September 2022, Tajik forces using tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mortars entered at least one Kyrgyz village and shelled the airport of the Kyrgyz town of Batken and adjacent areas.<ref name="2022-09-16 Reuters: Dzyubenko" /> Both nations blamed each other for the fighting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2022 |title=24 killed, scores wounded in clashes on Kyrgyz-Tajik border |url=https://apnews.com/article/tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-climate-and-environment-5171f9baf55e03409469c656f15af687 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en |archive-date=19 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919092805/https://apnews.com/article/tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-climate-and-environment-5171f9baf55e03409469c656f15af687 |url-status=live }}</ref> The border conflict continued for two days, after which the parties were able to agree to a [[ceasefire]] on the night of 16 September 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 16, 2022 |title=Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agree to border conflict ceasefire – TASS |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-agree-border-conflict-ceasefire-tass-2022-09-16/ |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-date=16 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916132409/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-agree-border-conflict-ceasefire-tass-2022-09-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which only held for about a day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernardini |first=Matt |date=17 September 2022 |title=Temporary cease-fire halts clash between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/09/17/Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan/8531663429395/ |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=[[UPI]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Usmanov |first=Danil |date=18 September 2022 |title=Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border conflict death toll nearly 100 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border-conflict-death-toll-nearly-100/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918192230/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border-conflict-death-toll-nearly-100/ |archive-date=18 September 2022}}</ref>
Kyrgyzstan officials said that on 14 September 2022, Tajik forces using tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mortars entered at least one Kyrgyz village and shelled the airport of the Kyrgyz town of Batken and adjacent areas.<ref name="2022-09-16 Reuters: Dzyubenko" /> Both nations blamed each other for the fighting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2022 |title=24 killed, scores wounded in clashes on Kyrgyz-Tajik border |url=https://apnews.com/article/tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-climate-and-environment-5171f9baf55e03409469c656f15af687 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en |archive-date=19 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919092805/https://apnews.com/article/tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-climate-and-environment-5171f9baf55e03409469c656f15af687 |url-status=live }}</ref> The border conflict continued for two days, after which the parties were able to agree to a [[ceasefire]] on the night of 16 September 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 16, 2022 |title=Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agree to border conflict ceasefire – TASS |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-agree-border-conflict-ceasefire-tass-2022-09-16/ |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-date=16 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916132409/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-agree-border-conflict-ceasefire-tass-2022-09-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which only held for about a day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernardini |first=Matt |date=17 September 2022 |title=Temporary cease-fire halts clash between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/09/17/Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan/8531663429395/ |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=[[UPI]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Usmanov |first=Danil |date=18 September 2022 |title=Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border conflict death toll nearly 100 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border-conflict-death-toll-nearly-100/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918192230/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border-conflict-death-toll-nearly-100/ |archive-date=18 September 2022}}</ref>


Kyrgyzstan's President [[Sadyr Japarov]] said in a televised address that his country will continue efforts to resolve the Kyrgyz-Tajik border issues in a purely peaceful way.<ref name="CNNReuters">{{Cite web |agency=Reuters |title=Kyrgyz leader urges calm after deadly conflict with Tajikistan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/20/asia/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-negotiating-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=CNN|date=20 September 2022 }}</ref> Tajikistan's foreign ministry stated that the key to resolving the conflict lay in negotiations, and it has reiterated its position that Kyrgyzstan had instigated the fighting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Official English Website |url=https://mfa.tj/en |access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> [[Russia|Russian]] news agencies reported that both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed to pull out additional military hardware and forces from the border, citing a statement from the head of the Sogdiyskaya region of Tajikistan.<ref name="CNNReuters" />
Kyrgyzstan's President [[Sadyr Japarov]] said in a televised address that his country will continue efforts to resolve the Kyrgyz-Tajik border issues in a purely peaceful way.<ref name="CNNReuters">{{Cite web |agency=Reuters |title=Kyrgyz leader urges calm after deadly conflict with Tajikistan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/20/asia/kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-negotiating-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=CNN|date=20 September 2022 }}</ref> Tajikistan's foreign ministry stated that the key to resolving the conflict lay in negotiations, and it has reiterated its position that Kyrgyzstan had instigated the fighting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Official English Website |url=https://mfa.tj/en |access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> [[Russia|Russian]] news agencies reported that both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed to pull out additional military hardware and forces from the border, citing a statement from the head of the [[Sughd Region]] of Tajikistan.<ref name="CNNReuters" />


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 21:57, 20 September 2022

2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes
Part of the post-Soviet conflicts

Map showing areas where clashes broke out
Date14 September 2022 – present
(5 days)
Location
Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Tajikistan  Kyrgyzstan
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Casualties and losses
41 killed[1]
58 killed (RFE/RL)[2]
200+ (assessment of the Kyrgyz side)[3]		 59 killed[4][5]
139 wounded
136,000 evacuated

Sporadic border clashes resumed between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on 27 January 2022, following a series of clashes in the spring and summer of 2021 between the two countries.

Kyrgyzstan officials said that on 14 September 2022, Tajik forces using tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mortars entered at least one Kyrgyz village and shelled the airport of the Kyrgyz town of Batken and adjacent areas.[6] Both nations blamed each other for the fighting.[7] The border conflict continued for two days, after which the parties were able to agree to a ceasefire on the night of 16 September 2022,[8] which only held for about a day.[9][10]

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov said in a televised address that his country will continue efforts to resolve the Kyrgyz-Tajik border issues in a purely peaceful way.[11] Tajikistan's foreign ministry stated that the key to resolving the conflict lay in negotiations, and it has reiterated its position that Kyrgyzstan had instigated the fighting.[12] Russian news agencies reported that both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed to pull out additional military hardware and forces from the border, citing a statement from the head of the Sughd Region of Tajikistan.[11]

Background

Historical context

The territories that comprise present-day Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, both formerly part of the Khanate of Kokand, were conquered by the Russian Empire in the 19th century.[13] In the 1920s, the Soviet Union imposed delimitation in the two regions which resulted in enclaves.[14] Both countries became independent in 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved. Both countries are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)[15] and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),[16] and are in theory allied to each other.

Previous clashes

Main article: 2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes

A border conflict began between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on 28 April 2021.[17] The events surrounding the conflict's outbreak are disputed, but clashes reportedly began due to an old water dispute between the two countries.[18][19] Some sources report an immediate reason for the conflict was the dissatisfaction of the local population with the installation of surveillance cameras near Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border. At least 55 people were killed in the events and more than 40,000 civilians were displaced.[20]

On 3 May 2021, both countries completed the withdrawal of troops from the border,[21] and on 18 May 2021, officials in both countries announced that they had agreed to joint security controls along their disputed border.[22] Apart from a small-scale incident on 9 July 2021,[23] the ceasefire held until January 2022.

Timeline

Sporadic clashes

On 27 January 2022, clashes resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the wounding of several more.[24] Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement that ten of its citizens were injured, six of them servicemen, the rest civilians. On the other side, Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry said that at least 11 of its citizens were being treated for moderately serious injuries. Kyrgyzstan authorities stated that the blocking of a road between the provincial center of Batken and the Kyrgyz village of Isfana by Tajik citizens was the cause of the clashes.[24]

On 10 March, an armed incident between border guards at the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border, in the area of Teskey, Batken District, killed a Tajik border guard. Following the incident, officials from the Batken Region in Kyrgyzstan and the Sughd Region in Tajikistan held talks.[25][26]

According to Tajik sources, a border clash occurred on 3 June after Kyrgyz soldiers crossed the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border close to Vorukh.[27] Two weeks later, on 14 June, a Tajik border guard was killed and three others injured in a clash with Kyrgyz border troops.[28]

Escalation

On 14 September, one Tajik border guard was killed and two others were wounded during clashes with Kyrgyz guards who accused Tajikistan of taking positions in a demarcated area.[29] Later the same day, two border guards were reported killed and eleven others wounded, five of whom were civilians.[30]

On 16 September, the conflict escalated. The use of tanks and armored personnel carriers was reported, as well as the shelling of the Batken Airport in the city of Batken, Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan accused Kyrgyzstan of shelling an outpost and seven border villages with heavy weapons. Tajik forces also entered a Kyrgyz border village. At least 31 injuries were reported by Kyrgyzstan, while one civilian was killed and three others were injured according to Tajik forces in Isfara, and Kyrgyzstan later announced 24 people had died and 87 more were injured.[6][31]

Multiple ceasefires between increasingly higher ranking officials have been reached, but have repeatedly been broken.[6] Coincidentally, the leaders of both countries were attending the ongoing summit in Uzbekistan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where they met and discussed the conflict.[32] The Kyrgyz Parliament held an emergency meeting due to the situation.[33] More than 136,000 people were evacuated from the conflict zone by Kyrgyzstan.[34] Tajikistan said that 15 of its civilians were killed in a Kyrgyz Bayraktar TB2 drone strike on a mosque.[35] Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency in the Batken Region.[36]

Analysis

Some analysts said that Russia's military performance in its invasion of Ukraine has been "lackluster" and has emboldened its allies to restart frozen conflicts, as Russia may not be able to use military force as a security guarantor.[citation needed]

The Diplomat called the conflict an act of aggression by Tajikistan. It said that the attack could be related to speculation that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon plans to hand over his position to his son Rustam Emomali, who is currently the Chairman of the National Assembly of Tajikistan. It also theorized that President Rahmon might wish to pull the attention of domestic and international audiences away from protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region by the Pamiris.[37]

International reactions

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tajik Foreign Ministry says 41 killed in border clashes". akispress. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Список жертв конфликта 14-17 сентября на таджикско-кыргызской границе". Радио Озоди.
  3. ^ "Таджикистан потерял убитыми более 200 военнослужащих – Совбез КР".
  4. ^ "Death toll from border conflict up to 59 – Kyrgyz health ministry". tass. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border clashes claim nearly 100 lives". BBC. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Dzyubenko, Olga (16 September 2022). "Kyrgyzstan reports heavy fighting with Tajikistan, 24 people killed". Bishkek: Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  7. ^ "24 killed, scores wounded in clashes on Kyrgyz-Tajik border". Associated Press. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agree to border conflict ceasefire – TASS". Reuters. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  9. ^ Bernardini, Matt (17 September 2022). "Temporary cease-fire halts clash between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan". UPI. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  10. ^ Usmanov, Danil (18 September 2022). "Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border conflict death toll nearly 100". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Kyrgyz leader urges calm after deadly conflict with Tajikistan". CNN. Reuters. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Official English Website". Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  13. ^ Morrison, Alexander (19 September 2022). "Russia's Great Game: the Conquest of Central Asia, 1780 – 1896" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  14. ^ Bergne, Paul (2007). "The National Territorial Delimitation". The Birth of Tajikistan: National Identity and the Origins of the Republic. London: I.B. Tauris. doi:10.5040/9780755620180.ch-005. ISBN 978-1-78831-271-4.
  15. ^ "The Shanghai Cooperation Organization". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  16. ^ "От Договора к Организации". odkb-csto.org. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Border Conflict – Final Report, Operation n° MDRKG013". reliefweb. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan forces exchange gunfire in worst border flareup in years". eurasianet.org. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  19. ^ Reuters Staff (29 April 2021). "Kyrgyz, Tajik security forces clash at border in water dispute". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ Bahtiyar Abdülkerimov (5 May 2021). "Death toll rises to 55 from Kyrgyz-Tajik border clashes". www.aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan completing withdrawal of troops from border". news.am. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree To Joint Security Controls Along Disputed Border". RFERL. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Kyrgyz border guard killed in shootout with Tajik forces". The Times of India. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Two civilians killed as guards clash at Kyrgyz-Tajik border". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Kyrgyzstan reports shooting on border with Tajikistan". Trend.Az. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Hold New Talks After Shooting At Border Leaves One Dead". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Tajikistan accuses Kyrgyzstan of provoking latest border clash". Reuters. 4 June 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
  28. ^ "One killed in Tajik-Kyrgyz border guard clash". Reuters. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
  29. ^ Reuters (14 September 2022). "One Tajikistan border guard killed in clashes with Kyrgyzstan – RIA". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ Reuters (14 September 2022). "Two reported killed in clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  31. ^ "Kyrgyzstan says Tajikistan resumed firing on border after ceasefire". Reuters. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  32. ^ Pannier, Bruce (17 September 2022). "As Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan descend into another border war, there's no-one to stop the fighting". Prague: bne IntelliNews. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  33. ^ Manning, Joshua (16 September 2022). "BREAKING: Kyrgyzstan parliament holds emergency session as fighting with Tajikistan continues". Euro Weekly News. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  34. ^ "Kyrgyzstan has evacuated over 136,000 from border conflict zone". akipress.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  35. ^ Reuters (17 September 2022). "Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan ceasefire holds up after border fighting". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  36. ^ "Kyrgyzstan declares state of emergency in Batken region bordering Tajikistan". www.aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  37. ^ "More than a 'Border Skirmish' Between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  38. ^ "Iran voices concern over Kyrgyz-Tajik clashes". Mehr News Agency. 18 September 2022. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  39. ^ "Putin calls on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to de-escalate". MSN. 18 September 2022. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  40. ^ "Russia raising combat potential of its military bases in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan — Shoigu". TASS. 24 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Scores dead in Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border clashes despite ceasefire". euronews. 18 September 2022. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan_clashes&oldid=1111415642"