DUSHANBE, November 20, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s border service has admitted killing of Uzbek border guard and expressed its regret at the incident.

A source at the Tajik border service said that an Uzbek soldier was shot Thursday (November 15) as Uzbek border guards entering into the Tajik territory failed to respond to warning shots. 

According to the source, the incident occurred at 8:25 a.m. in area of the Tursunzoda district (central Tajikistan) bordering on the Uzbek region of Surkhandarya.  “A group of Uzbek border troops, numbering seven persons, on a routine patrol entered some 150 meters into Tajikistan’s territory,” said the source, “Tajik border guards opened fire after the Uzbek servicemen failed to respond to warning shots.” 

Tajikistan’s State Border protection Committee expresses regret at the incident and expresses its deep condolences to the family and friends of the Uzbek border guard, who has been killed.  

According to unofficial data, more than ten incidents have occurred on the Tajik-Uzbek border since the beginning of the year.  Only the third of Tajikistan’s common border with Uzbekistan, which is more than 1000 kilometers in length, has to date been demarcated.