A Tajik national was reportedly wounded in an incident that took place on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border on May 7.   As usual, Tajik and Kyrgyz authorities give controversial reports on border incidents.  

The Tajik state-run news agency Khovar, citing the country’s Border Guard Directorate, says the incident took place at 11:00 am local time.  Olimjon Abdulloyev, a resident of Jabbor-Rasoulov district in the Tajik northern province of Sughd, intended to contact Kyrgyz military personnel, deployed in in Syuykta village, “to find out about the fate of his minor son Ramazon Abdulloyev, who had been detained at the state border line.”  .

Relevant bodies of both countries are reported carrying out investigation into the incident.

“Olimjon Abdulloyev did not commit any actions contrary to the principles of good neighborliness.  However, firearms were used against him and he was wounded, Khovar says.  

The head of the Qurghoncha village council in Jabbor-Rasoulov district, Nodir Usmonzoda, has confirmed the fact that a local resident was wounded by Kyrgyz border guards. 

He told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service Tuesday evening that a resident of Qurghoncha village, Olimjon Abdulloyev, was wounded in the leg and was taken the central district hospital in Jabbor-Rasoulov district.   

Meanwhile, according to the version voiced by the Kyrgyz authorities, the incident took place at 12:20 not far from Ak-Boso village in Leilek district of Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region.

Kyrgyz border guards on patrol reportedly noticed Tajik shepherds grazing cattle in Kyrgyz territory, 250-300 meters from the state border. 

Kyrgyz border service’s press center says Tajik nationals allegedly ignored the demand of the border guards to leave the Kyrgyz territory; moreover, they started throwing stones at Kyrgyz border guards.  One of the shepherds reportedly fired 2-3 shots towards the Kyrgyz border guards. 

“In order to prevent escalation of the situation, Kyrgyz border guards fired warning shots into the air and the shepherds fled to the Tajik territory,” Kyrgyzstan’s border service reported. 

“According to unconfirmed reports, one of the Tajik citizens was wounded in the leg.  However, it is unknown under what circumstances, when and where exactly the injury was received, because the Tajik law enforcement officers only provided a photo,” the Kyrgyz side says.  

Representatives of border services of both sides are expected to meet to clarify the situation. 

Currently, the situation along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border is stable.   

To-date, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed upon 90 percent of previously contested territory. 

Recall, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that an agreement addressing the long-standing border dispute between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is set to be signed in March this year.  The announcement followed discussions between Fidan and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe on January 10.  The Turkish top diplomat’s visit to Kyrgyzstan the day prior reportedly also featured discussions on the impending agreement. 

The border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.   Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan began in 2002.  The countries share 972 kilometers of border and unresolved border issues have led to tensions for the past 30 years.