UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY, MINOR EDITS
By Faruk Zorlu
ANKARA (AA) - The Organization of Turkic States on Friday urged an "immediate cease-fire" after a border clash erupted between the Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
In a statement, the group condemned the use of heavy military weapons against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
It stressed that steps should be taken to contain the incidents and reduce tensions through available peaceful means.
The organization expressed "grave concern about the ongoing armed clashes at the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border and calls for an immediate cease-fire and resolution of contradictions by political and diplomatic means around a negotiation table.”
Voicing support for Kyrgyzstan’s efforts for a peaceful solution to the situation, the group underlined the importance of negotiations for "lasting peace and stability in Central Asia."
It expressed hope that "as a result of the negotiations, the two sides would pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust, and take necessary steps leading to confidence building."
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry also voiced concern over the recent developments.
“We hope that the tension between the two friendly and brotherly countries will be ended quickly without further escalation and that the disputes will be settled peacefully through dialogue,” it added.
- Effort for cease-fire
Meanwhile, foreign ministers of two countries discussed the situation at the border, according to information obtained by Anadolu Agency from the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry.
Also, Kamchybek Tashiev and Saimumin Yatimov, heads of the State Committees for National Security of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, respectively, agreed on a cease-fire, Kyrgyzstan’s national news agency Kabar said, citing Kyrgyz border authorities.
Kyrgyzstan also criticized Tajikistan for "using all methods of hybrid warfare against Kyrgyzstan and spreading false information on social networks and information resources," according to the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan.
Besides, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary-General Stanislav Zas held talks with Kyrgyzstan's Security Council Secretary Marat Imankulov and Tajik Security Council Secretary Nasrullo Mahmudzoda, and the need for an immediate cease-fire and negotiations were underlined, Kabar reported, citing the CSTO.
Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon discussed the border dispute on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, said the press center of the Kyrgyz presidency.
The two leaders agreed to instruct their respective institutions to withdraw their forces from the contact line on the border.
Also, a commission would be established to investigate the cause of the conflict on the border, it added.
Thirty-one people were injured in the clashes on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Health Ministry said on Friday.
*Nazir Aliyev Tayfur from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Busra Nur Cakmak in Ankara contributed to this report.