Kyrgyz media outlets report that Chairman of the State National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan (GKNB), Kamchybek Tashiyev, said yesterday at a conference in Batken that the work on delimitation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border will be completed in the near future.
The scientific conference entitled "The History of Batken – the Spiritual Heritage of the People" was held at the Batken Regional Drama Theater, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region, the 25th anniversary of Batken region and Batken city.
“God willing, we will resolve the border issue with the neighbors in the near future. It will not be like before. Everything will be decided in accordance with the law," Kamchybek Tashiyev was cited as saying.
The border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan began in 2002. The countries share 987 kilometers of border and unresolved border issues have led to tensions for the past 30 years.
Tensions between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have remained high until recently, owing to a border dispute, as well as other issues involving irrigation, smuggling, and illegal border crossings.
This dispute has led to clashes between the two countries. Kyrgyzstan unilaterally closed the border with Tajikistan in spring 2021 after an armed conflict along a disputed segment of the border left 36 Kyrgyz nationals, including two children.
During fierce armed confrontations, a lot of schools, mosques were destroyed in addition to the houses of civilians; administrative buildings were also attacked by fire.
When the border closed, official trade turnover plummeted to nothing. Smugglers continued to ply their wares across the border, however.
