After the conflict in September 2022, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistanborder people live in fear while yearning for peace.
Zahro Hakimova has lived all her life in the village of Khojai A&39;lo, in Tajikistan's Isfara district, almost immediately on the Gita border. In the September border clashes, she lost her husband, Bakhrom Khakimov, 51, a physics and math teacher at a local school who taught children wrestling at the village gym in his spare time.
Zahro said her husband was killed while rescuing students.
She said: "When gunfire started to sound in the village, Bahrom took the children to a safe area and went to the Kyrgyz border guards alone, trying to get them not to fire on the children. But he was shot dead in the end."
za Herro himself is a nurse. Locals and residents of the Kyrgyz village next door came to her for injections and drips. Sometimes the patient is seriously ill, and she also goes to the patient's home for treatment. She said the villagers have never had any conflicts with border residents of neighboring countries.
"We used to be good neighbors without quarrels or conflicts. Some Kyrgyz acquaintances offered their condolences and texted me comforting messages after learning of my husband's death in the conflict," Zahro said.
Although the conflict is over, Zahro said the villagers still live in fear. She hopes that one day the situation will stabilize and there will be peace.
Zahro's mother-in-law, Ochakhon Hakimova, also expressed tears in her eyes as she mourned her son and hoped that peace would come as soon as possible.
She cried: "Mothers in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have had enough of war. No mother wants war, no mother wants to lose her child."
on September 14-17, 2022 More than 100 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed on both sides in the clashes on the Geeta border. In addition to private houses, many schools, mosques and office buildings were also destroyed in the fierce fighting. More than 136,000 Kyrgyz people were forced to leave their homes. Some of them have returned, but are still scared and take the usual precautions when packing.
In fact, there are frequent clashes over the disputed stretch of the Geeta border. But the armed confrontation is the worst since April 2021, when more than 50 people were killed in clashes between the two countries.
Ainula Zaparova, a resident of Jashtyk village in Kyrgyzstan's Lelek district, said: "We don't want money, we don't want humanitarian aid, we just want a peaceful life. When will we stop suffering? The Chinese government has completely resolved the border issue. We are now home, but we are afraid to spend the night at home because we are afraid. We do not want war, we have been through enough pain." Ruins of Dirashit Kudaiberdiyev's house. It is in the immediate vicinity of the township of Qorkuh in Tajikistan, where armies from both sides exchanged fire during the conflict.
"Everything was burnt and the neighbour's house was gone. What a shame. Look what's left in the house, you see, the walls are still smoking. I have six children - four daughters and two A son and two grandchildren, they all went to Bishkek . I will not let them back until the new house is built,” Kudaiberdiyev said.
The Tajikistan Presidential Press Center said the clashes in Isfara and Bobokhon-Gafurov districts completely destroyed 85 houses and affected more than 180 families. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that 640 houses were destroyed, of which 423 could not be repaired and another 217 needed repairs.
Both governments have pledged to rebuild conflict-damaged homes for border residents.
Isfara, TajikistanSojida Harikova, a resident of Lakkon village in the district, said she heard gunshots on her way back from the market on the day of the clashes. Then, he was not allowed to enter the village to go home.
She lamented: "I saw all the villagers running to the mountains. I also took refuge there and found my grandchildren. After the situation calmed down a little, I went home and saw that the house had been burned to ashes."
she Said that during this difficult time, everyone very much wants to have a peaceful life.
"We have been living here for almost 40 years and have been neighbors for many years with Kyrgyz . There has never been a war between us and the neighborhood is good. Nothing can replace peace and tranquility. I believe Kyrgyz neighbors Nor do they want war. Ordinary people just want peace," Harikova said.
Gulinara Islalieva, a resident of Arka village in Kyrgyzstan's Lelek district, said: "We received a message that day when we were harvesting crops in the field. Suddenly there was an explosion and gunshots. We didn't hit the car and had to run all the way to the safety zone. The children were crying in fear. When it was over, I came home and saw the house was ransacked and burned down. The car was also Burned. Now I don't know what to do or how to live."
She and her husband have spent 20 years repairing the house. During this time, her husband has been working abroad, sending money to the family. Currently, Gulinara's husband is still in Russia, and she lives with her three children and relatives.
It wasn't just private houses that were destroyed by the September conflict. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education, nine schools and a kindergarten in Batken district were damaged. School walls, roof and windows were damaged. All students were transferred to neighboring schools for classes.
The 64th school in Somonien village, Jorkuch township, Tajikistan was also destroyed. The school's vice-principal, Olyahon Davdova, said the shelling started at 5 a.m., but luckily the school was empty at the time.
"My colleague, the vice-principal, Kamorkhon Sobirov, was also injured that day. He is still in the hospital. Currently we have more than 350 students attending a school in another village, which is very far away, on the road It will take a lot of time. All residents are scared and worried by now. Adults and children alike," Davdova said.
Tajik authorities have promised to rebuild the new school building as soon as possible, and local residents hope the school will be built in a peaceful atmosphere.
Kamiljan Tuchyev, a resident of Khojai A&39;lo village in Isfara district, has returned to a normal life and started working in the fields. But he said he was tired of conflict.
He said: "Farmers are all working in vain, and the crops are not harvested. Now I am working in the fields, but I have been terrified. What if I accidentally step on the unexploded shell without seeing it? Nearby? There are a lot of these shells.”
, recalling the time when the two peoples lived in peace, said bitterly: “Just up our village, there are 22 Kyrgyz households. We get water from the same dam and drink the same Water. Now I ask myself: what the hell is going on, what happened to us? What a loss with so many civilians and young soldiers dying, so many houses and farmland destroyed! Enough! Stop this!"
Like other Geeta border residents, he hopes that after so much death and destruction, the two governments can finally reach an agreement to settle the border issue once and for all.
Source: cabar.asia
Compilation: Vika
