Historical context

The territories that comprise present-day Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, both formerly part of the Khanate of Kokand, were conquered by the Russian Empire in the 19th century.^[22] In the 1920s, the Soviet Union imposed delimitation in the two regions which resulted in enclaves.^[23] Both countries became independent in 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved. Both countries are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)^[24] and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),^[25] and are theoretically allied to each other.

Previous clashes

A border conflict started between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on 28 April 2021.^[26] The events surrounding the conflict's outbreak are disputed, but clashes reportedly began due to an old water dispute between the two countries,^[27][28] near the Vorukh enclave.^[29] Some sources report an immediate reason for the conflict was the dissatisfaction of the local population with the installation of surveillance cameras near Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border. At least 55 people were killed in the events and more than 40,000 civilians were displaced.^[30]

On 3 May 2021, both countries completed the withdrawal of troops from the border,^[31] and on 18 May 2021, officials in both countries announced that they had agreed to joint security controls along their disputed border.^[32] Apart from a small-scale incident on 9 July 2021,^[33] the ceasefire held until January 2022.

Sporadic clashes

On 27 January 2022, clashes resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the wounding of several more.^[34] Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement that ten of its citizens were injured, six of them servicemen, the rest civilians. On the other side, Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry said that at least 11 of its citizens were being treated for moderately serious injuries. Kyrgyzstan authorities stated that the blocking of a road between the provincial center of Batken and the Kyrgyz village of Isfana by Tajik citizens was the cause of the clashes.^[34]

On 10 March, an armed incident between border guards at the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border, in the area of Teskey, Batken District, killed a Tajik border guard. Following the incident, officials from the Batken Region in Kyrgyzstan and the Sughd Region in Tajikistan held talks.^[35][36]

According to Tajik sources, a border clash occurred on 3 June after Kyrgyz soldiers crossed the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border close to Vorukh.^[37] Two weeks later, on 14 June, a Tajik border guard was killed and three others injured in a clash with Kyrgyz border troops.^[38]

Escalation

On 14 September, one Tajik border guard was killed and two others were wounded during clashes with Kyrgyz guards who accused Tajikistan of taking positions in a demarcated area.^[39] Later the same day, two border guards were reported killed and eleven others wounded, five of whom were civilians.^[40]

On 16 September, the conflict escalated. The use of tanks and armored personnel carriers was reported, as well as the shelling of the Batken Airport in the city of Batken, Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan accused Kyrgyzstan of shelling an outpost and seven border villages with heavy weapons. Tajik forces also entered a Kyrgyz border village. At least 31 injuries were reported by Kyrgyzstan, while one civilian was killed and three others were injured according to Tajik forces in Isfara, and Kyrgyzstan later announced 24 people had died and 87 more were injured.^[14][41]

Multiple ceasefires between increasingly higher ranking officials have been reached but have repeatedly been broken.^[14] Coincidentally, the leaders of both countries were attending the 2022 SCO summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where they met and discussed the conflict.^[42] The Kyrgyz Parliament held an emergency meeting due to the situation.^[43] More than 136,000 people were evacuated from the conflict zone by Kyrgyzstan.^[44] Tajikistan said that 15 of its civilians were killed in a Kyrgyz Bayraktar TB2 drone strike on a mosque.^[45] Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency in the Batken Region.^[46]

Houses and civilian structures, including markets and schools, in the village of Ak-Sai in Kyrgyzstan were reported to have been intentionally burned and looted. Kyrgyzstan authorities said that 137,000 people had been evacuated to the Batken and Osh regions.^[47]