On the border of the two countries, Uzbek border guards killed three citizens of Afghanistan. In response, the Taliban occupied a disputed island in the Amu Darya River.
Mazar-i-Sharif, August 22 - Sangar, Qari Ahmad. Earlier, two rocket attacks were carried out from this territory of Afghanistan on the border of Uzbekistan, for which ISIS* claimed responsibility.
A Sangar website source from the local Taliban police says from the scene that this time about 90 border guards from this group infiltrated the island between the two countries. The reason for this action was the killing, wounding, and capture of several residents of Afghanistan by the border guards of Uzbekistan.
“Yesterday, August 21, around noon, 56 residents of the villages of Saripitaw and Toqay of Shurteppa district, Balkh province, crossed to the border island called Aral Baba, which is very large and is located opposite the city of Termez, to collect licorice**. Uzbek border guards demand that they leave the island as soon as possible, as this is the border of Uzbekistan. Our citizens object and say that they are on the territory of Afghanistan. The Uzbek border guards opened fire in response,” the source said.
As a result of this incident, according to Taliban sources, among the citizens of Afghanistan, three people were killed and three were injured, and seven more were captured by the border guards of Uzbekistan.
“Uzbekistan soon sent its military helicopters to the border, which fly over the territory. Yesterday, our command sent 43 militants to the island, and this morning (August 22) - 46. There were no clashes, ” the source said.
This is the third incident in this border area between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in recent months. For the first time on April 18 this year, a missile attack was carried out, for which the terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility. 7 missiles were fired from the village of Toqay, Shurteppa district, Balkh province, across the territory of Uzbekistan. The Uzbek authorities did not officially report this attack, but in the following days, about 50 military planes and helicopters of this country made a combat march in the area.
The second rocket attack was also carried out from the same Afghan village on July 5, which was soon confirmed by the Uzbek Foreign Ministry. The official press release of this department reported that four rockets hit four private houses in the Majnuntal mahalla and the fifth hit the football field in the city of Termez, but there were no casualties. ISIS also claimed responsibility for the attack and said the attack was in retaliation for the crackdown on demonstrations in Qalaqalpaqistan by Uzbek authorities.
Up to this point, the Uzbek authorities have given no explanation for the events of the last two days on the border with Afghanistan.
*This organization is under UN sanctions or banned due to terrorist activities.
** A leguminous plant whose sweetish root is used to make medicinal substances, such as laxatives.
