Government forces reportedly incur losses in Gorno Badakhshan
Urgently
Clash in Khorog reportedly nearing completion; militants surrounded
Tajikistan clashes after death of top official

DUSHANBE, July 24, 2012, Asia-Plus – The government forces are reportedly incurring losses in Gorno Badakhshan.

The Russian news agency, Itar Tass, reports that a source close to special operation headquarters told the news agency that nine servicemen were killed and 25 others were wounded in a special operation targeting a group suspected of involvement in the killing of the chief of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s office in Gorno Badakhshan.

The operation, involving armored personnel carriers and helicopters, was launched in Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno Badakhshan Tuesday morning.

Several members of illegal armed groups were killed and several others were detained, including five Afghans, Itar Tass reported.

Tajik daily newspaper, Imrouz-News, reports that concentration of armed persons is observed in the area of the Shiva Lake in Afghan Shignan. Probably some 200 militants have concentrated there, Imrouz-News said. The Khorog-Dushanbe highway is closed for traffic.
http://news.tj/en/news/governm...ses-gorno-badakhshan

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18965366
BBC:
At least 42 people including 12 soldiers and 30 rebels have been killed in fighting in the remote Tajik region of Gorno-Badakhshan, state television has reported.

Government reportedly ends operations in Gorno Badakhshan


DUSHANBE, July 26, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan's military has ended operations in the eastern province of Badakhshan, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports.

Earlier on July 25, the Tajik government called for a four-hour cease-fire to negotiate with those involved in hostilities in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province. Dushanbe also said those who lay down their arms and surrender would not be punished

Dozens are reported to have died in fighting that broke out after the government moved forces to the region following the July 21 assassination of General Abdullo Nazarov, a regional head of the State Committee for National Security.

The government said at least 12 soldiers and 30 militants were killed in fighting in the remote mountainous region on July 24.

The Tajik Service reports that at least 30 civilians were killed in Khorog, the provincial capital, by unknown snipers.

The head of the Gorno-Badakhshan regional government, Qodiri Qosim, said Tajik President Emomali Rahmon declared the cease-fire on July 25 after sending officials led by his defense minister, Sherali Khairulloyev, to the region to negotiate.

The government has described the armed fighters as "militants," but reportedly has offered its amnesty to all but four of the fighters if they lay down their weapons and surrender.

Among the four is Tolib Ayombekov, a former Islamic opposition fighter who received a post in the Interior Ministry then a senior position in the border guards after the civil war.

Tajik authorities blame Ayombekov for Nazarov's murder, charges Ayombekov denies.

The central government's relationship with the eastern region has grown worse in recent years, as government forces were repeatedly sent to Gorno-Badakhshan to rein in unrest and excesses committed by local officials.

Many local figures are, like Ayombekov, former fighters for the opposition who received posts under the terms of the 1997 peace accord that ended the civil war.

Nazarov, the slain general, was another former opposition fighter who received a state position.

Allegations about his murder have revolved around reputed smuggling operations in the region, which borders Afghanistan and China.

Other fighters in eastern Tajikistan, however, maintained and even increased their personal influence over local affairs.

Government forces were sent into the region in 2008 amid growing discontent that spawned demonstrations in the regional capital Khorog, and again in 2010 during protests that centered on the actions of a regional prosecutor.

One security operation in the Rasht area in 2010 to recapture escaped prisoners led to months of fighting in the mountainous terrain controlled by former opposition field commanders who did not accept Tajikistan's 1997 peace accord. The clashes left scores of government troops and militants dead.

FYI, Buyer beware. I booked a hunt through Igor (Profyhunter) and hunted with his contact in Kyrgyzstan for Ibex this past September, 2012. On that hunt we were arrested by the police because the outfitter did not properly fill out all the necessary paperwork or had the proper Governmental Person along on the hunt to make sure the outfitter hunted correctly. With the arrest they also confiscated our trophies, horns and the capes of the Ibex. The outfitter assured us that he would get back the trophies and ship them at his expense in 2 weeks and that we would not have to pay him the balance of the hunt until we received the trophies. On my return I notified Igor of this as he was the booking agent/ part owner of this operation. Igor then changed the date to December. Well guys December is gone and now Igor and his outfitter want us to pay them in full for our hunt before they will ship us the promised trophies. I believe they just wanted to suck us out of our money and not ship us the hunted trophies we took. I believe the skins are bad or damaged at this point and they will be shipping to us either rotten or someone else's animals not our own. First off Kyrgyzstan is a corrupt country and everyone should not be trusted, secondly Igor made all of these promises that he runs this outfitter and he calls the shots with him. Instead of making the situation right , he as added to the shamelessness of asking for our payments before we have in our possessions the skins in hand ( Bribery !!!) Now to add to all of this I was promised and set with our Booking Agent Igor, that we would combine our Ibex hunt with a Roe Deer hunt, well guess what again. The outfitter made every excuse in the book to not take us on the Roe Deer hunt , The Deer hunt that was booked with Igor. Igor uses this web site as free advertising for his bookings and uses the cancellation hunt as a means of attracting clients. We bit on this and got screwed. I can tell you that his pricing he states in the cancellation is exactly the same deal you can get from the outfitter anytime, it is no savings, they are trying to get you to fill an open spot.. If you want more info PM me back here on this forum. There were three of us on this hunt and I will get the other as well to post theirs on here too.
Steve - USA Hunter