The last few days have been some of the most violent and consequential in the independent history of Central Asia. On #Kyrgyzstan's day of mourning, a 🧵 on why the international media should pay attention to what is happening, and why "border clash" isn't helpful. I’m not alone in making this argument, but I think it is worth restating: the language of “border clash” or “border skirmish”-- to describe Tajikistan’s military attacks on Batken and Chong Alay occludes more than it illuminates. 1/16