Conflicting parities in Tajikistan negotiating agreement
DUSHANBE. July 25 (Interfax) - A truce has been announced in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan, where fierce fighting erupted on Tuesday, and the conflicting parties are trying to negotiate an agreement, a source in Tajik law enforcement services close to the operation command, told Interfax.
The government wants criminal armed groups to lay down arms and to hand over the four murderers of the National Security Committee general Abdullo Nazarov.
"A truce has been declared to last until 2 p.m. (1 p.m., Moscow time), to be filled by talks on ways to avoid further bloodshed," the source said.
"The talks involve Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev and former opposition field commanders," the source said.
Tolib Aiyembekov, whom the State National Security Committee named the chief suspect, is not present, but his representatives and supporters are attending the talks.
"Our demands are simple: to hand over the four killers of General Nazarov, and to lay down arms voluntarily, which will bring amnesty to all militants who surrender," the source said.
A special operation was launched in Khorog at 4 a.m. on July 24 (3 a.m. Moscow time) to track down and caught, or neutralize former opposition field commander Aiyembekov. Maj. Gan. Nazarov was chief of the State Security Committee's department in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. He was killed on July 21.
The State National Security Committee announced on Tuesday that 30 militants were killed and 40 others detained in the special operation. Twelve law enforcement personnel were killed and 23 wounded.
The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region is a scarcely populated part of eastern Tajikistan crossed by Pamir mountain ranges. Its administrative center Khorog is located 520 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.