Chiefs of the State Committees for National Security of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Saimumin Yatimov and Kamchybek Tashiyev, who are cochairmen of the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan joint commission for border delimitation and demarcation issues, met in the Tajik northern city of Buston on November 23 to discuss delimitation and demarcation of the shared border’s disputable stretches.
Tajikistan’s state-run news agency Khovar says they gave specific instructions to the working groups of the governmental delegations to continue efforts to determine the boundary line between the two countries in the remaining sections.
However, the details of the negotiations and any agreements reached were not disclosed. This aligns with the usual practice of keeping matters related to the delimitation and demarcation of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan confidential.
AKIpress reported that speaking at a meeting with residents of Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarof said on December 11, 2023 that the issues of demarcation of the disputed stretches of Kyrgyzstan’s common border with Tajikistan are planned to be resolved by spring next year.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, following the meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, announced on January 10, 2024 that an agreement addressing the long-standing border dispute between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is set to be signed in March this year.
Kamchybek Tashiyev announced on October 13 in the Kyrgyz city of Batken that the work on defining the border line between the two countries is nearing completion. This statement was made during an international scientific conference in Batken, where border-related issues were discussed.
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.
