BISHKEK/ DUSHANBE, 30 April, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan blamed each other for cross-border shelling and clashes that left at least four people dead and dozens injured in a conflict over water.

A large part of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border has remained unmarked, fueling fierce disputes over water, land and pastures. Kyrgyz and Tajik delegations have held several rounds of talks in recent years but have failed to end the border controversy.

Along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, the troops from the two countries exchanged gunfire for most of the day around a water supply facility near the village of Kok-Tash in western Kyrgyzstan.

More than 800 Kyrgyz residents were evacuated from several villages engulfed by the clashes.

On late Thursday, officials from the two countries declared a cease-fire and agreed to pull back troops from the area.

But a Kyrgyz police spokeswoman in Batken, Damira Yusupova, said heavy firing broke out again before dawn on Friday.

However, amid the clashes, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Zhaparov met with top officials to discuss the situation.