ISFARA, December 28, 2009, Asia-Plus - A couple from the village of Zarkhok in the northern district of Isfara have been killed in a mine explosion on the Tajik-Uzbek border.

According to the Isfara police department, the incident took place on December 25, at about 3:00 p.m., when Oybek Ibrohimov, 37, and his wife Zarifa Qurbonova, 34, were gathering firewood in the vicinity of the village. They were killed after a landmine along the Tajik-Uzbek border exploded.

“Their bodies were taken out from the minefield only the next day after deminers cleared the adjoining area,” the source said, noting that the pair left the 10-year-old daughter Zarrina and .and the 6-year-old son Jahongir.

This incident, like many before, highlights a serious problem for many Tajik citizens following the Uzbek government’s s unilateral decision in the late 1990s to mine rural border areas. The action was reportedly taken to stave off incursions by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). Whoever, to date, no one Uzbek militants has been blown up by these mines, while casualties among the civilian Tajik population have increased. Most of the victims were women and children who were gathering firewood along the border as well as shepherds pasturing cattle in the areas. Almost all who have survived, have become disabled for life, he added.