Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan border guards exchange fire
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Border clashes erupt between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and attempts to reach a ceasefire have so far failed.
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Kyrgyzstan border forces
In the bloodiest escalation since clashes that killed dozens last year, Kyrgyzstan has accused Tajikistan of firing on its troops and deploying forces at their contested border.
Kyrgyzstan's national security committee said Tajikistan used grenade launchers and mortar shells in the exchanges, and four Kyrgyz soldiers suffered shrapnel wounds according to a health ministry spokesperson. Media in Tajikistan said the clashes resulted in one death and 11 injuries, three civilians, and eight officers.
Last year’s shooting between the two countries resulted in more than 50 deaths amid fears of a wider conflict erupting. This latest round of violence came after Tajik citizens blocked a road that passes through Tajik territory and links two Kyrgyz cities.
So far, two rounds of telephone talks had yet to produce a ceasefire as of 11:00 pm (1700 GMT), "Moreover, (Tajikistan) continues to push heavy military equipment and personnel towards the border," according to a statement by Kyrgyzstan’s national security committee.
