BATKEN, Kyrgyzstan -- A Kyrgyz border guard has been wounded by gunfire near the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said on August 10 the incident occurred on August 8 when Kyrgyz border guards in the southern Batken region tried to prevent an illegal border crossing by 15 Tajik nationals.
One Tajik was detained, while others managed to escape.
One allegedly fired a shot from Tajik territory and injured the Kyrgyz officer in the leg.
The incident took place as Kyrgyz and Tajik officials were discussing ways to ease tensions over recent cross-border violence.
On August 3, Kyrgyz and Tajik nationals clashed over disputed road and water access. Six people were injured by thrown stones.
Tensions along the tortuous, partially disputed Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders have simmered since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
