Kyrgyzstan: Things Getting Back to Normal on Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border

Kyrgyz officials say all border crossing points on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek frontier were functioning on May 28 -- two days after the border was sealed amid an armed incident in the Uzbek town of Khanabad.

The Khanabad events, during which suspected Islamic militants exchanged gunfire with state security personnel, caused a spike in bilateral tension between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Uzbek officials initially claimed that the militants crossed into Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek firmly denied the charge on May 27. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

By May 28, tension was dissipating and the atmosphere at border checkpoints was returning to normal. "There is no buildup of people, cars or trucks that is observed," a statement issued by the press service of the Kyrgyz Border Service said.