The Border Service of Kyrgyzstan announced today that it has tightened security measures on borders. The Border Service of Kyrgyzstan confirmed information about the explosion that occurred in the night of May 25 and 26 in the Uzbek town of Khanabad, also known for hosting a US airbase (K2 or Camp Stronghold Freedom) vacated in 2005 after unrest in the area.
"According to the obtained information, the explosions are reported to have taken place at 02:00 in the town of Khanabad of the Republic of Uzbekistan on May 26," the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan said.
On the other side, Uzbekistan is claiming for clashes to have started in Kyrgyzstan.
As usual, in Central Asia you always have a broad range of truths; you just have to choose the one you feel more comfortable with.
As for us, apparently the situation is not affecting Bishkek in any way. Unfortunately Martina Z., IUNV/UNAIDS Intern in Tashkent, should leave the country in three weeks to come to Kyrgyzstan for a long-awaited holiday with her boyfriend; she's now fearing their program will just blow up for Uzbekistan unilaterally sealed border with Kyrgyzstan.
Further, DSS advisers in Tashkent (DSS unofficial slogan is "Let's get scared") are apparently overconcerned about political/military stability in the region, and Martina fears they could forbid any mouvements even if this crisis will finish soon.
I think there will be two potential option for development:
1) Crisis will vanish and the border will reopen soon;
2) Uzbekistan will find a reason to put the blame for what happened on estremists coming from Kyrgyzstan creating the premises for a conflict;
In both cases, I told Martina, she will not have to be concerned for her holiday.
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