DUSHANBE, September 15, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Two border guards have been killed in a skirmish on the Tajik-Afghan border in Khatlon’s Shuroobod district.

According to press center of the main border directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), border guards on a routine patrol spotted a group of Afghan armed trespassers that were illegally crossing the border river in Khatlon’s Shuroobod district, some 250 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe, Saturday night. 

When the border guards tried to detain them, the trespassers supported by fire from the Afghan territory opened fire on the border guards.  As a result of skirmish that lasted for more than two hours, two border guards -- Lieutenant Ibodullo Ishoqov and private soldier Navrouzmalik Karimov were killed.  The source said nothing about casualties among the Afghan trespassers.