Kyrgyz officials say Uzbekistan has unilaterally suspended entrance to the country for Kyrgyz nationals via at least two checkpoints along the two Central Asian countries' border.
Officials at the State Border Guard Service told RFE/RL that Uzbek authorities deployed dozens of troops, two armored personnel vehicles, and two military trucks near the disputed segment of the border in southwestern Ala-Buka district early on March 18.
In response, Kyrgyz authorities suspended entrance to the country for Uzbek citizens at three checkpoints along the border and initiated talks with Uzbek border officials.
Local residents near Uzbekistan's Sokh exclave within Kyrgyzstan told RFE/RL that entrance to the exclave is currently suspended as well.
Many areas along borders in Central Asia remain in dispute since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
