Kyrgyzstan’s president urges calm after bloody clashes with Tajikistan

Bishkek (agencies)

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sader Jabarov called on his country yesterday to trust its army and its strategic partners, and said there was no need for volunteer forces on the border with Tajikistan following bloody clashes there last week. At least 100 people died between 14 and 16 September in fighting using tanks, aircraft and rocket artillery on a disputed part of the border in Kyrgyzstan’s Batkin province. “We continue our efforts to resolve the border issues between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in a purely peaceful way,” Jabarov said in a televised speech on a day of national mourning.
“I would like to make another point: I urge calm among the men and young men who are ready to go to Batken, we have brave warriors and sufficient forces to repel those who violate our borders,” he added.
On the other hand, the authorities in Kyrgyzstan said that they had negotiated yesterday, for the release of 4 border guards captured by Tajik forces during the conflict.