A three-day military conflict between Krygyzstan and Tajikistan left more than 110 dead in mid-September. The conflict hints at a worrisome trend of military standoffs that could threaten peace and stability in Central Asia. At least 150 border conflicts have erupted since Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan became independent 31 years ago; however, nothing has come close to the latest conflict in terms of its scale and intensity. On September 14–17, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan locked heads in the biggest military conflict between the two sides to date. Another border skirmish between the Kyrgyzstani and Tajikistani border guards quickly became a major military conflict that raged for three days and left behind at least 110 dead and 218 wounded on both sides ( Kloop , September 20). Kyrgyzstan called the conflict “a premeditated armed act of aggression” and stated that Tajikistan “treacherously encroached on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan” ( […]