[11] On 28 April, forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border between Kök-Tash and Khojai A'lo, started the clashes, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injuries.

[12][13] The initial clashes were fought with fists and thrown stones, but quickly escalated to gunfire, with reports of use of heavy weaponry.

[20] On 1 May, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a decree that declares a two-day nationwide mourning,[21] accusing Tajikistan of building-up troops and military equipment on the border.

[29] The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon also ordered that all residential buildings destroyed in Chorku be restored.

Some of the civilian deaths occurred when Kyrgyz villagers fled their homes in panic under Tajik mortar fire.

[41] On 3 May, the prosecutor general's office of Tajikistan launched a criminal investigation into servicemen and citizens of Kyrgyzstan for "unleashing an aggressive war".

[42] The Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office filed a case on the crime against the peace on 30 April and accused the Tajikistan Armed Forces of invading the country and seizing their sovereign territory.

[43] The European Union welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached on 30 April, and expressed regret over the violence, as well as sympathy to those who had lost relatives or friends.

Additionally, citizens living in San Francisco protested in support of Batken and call for international institutions to bring President Rahmon to justice.