The issue of delimiting the Tajik-Kyrgyz border has been nearly resolved, with bilateral efforts now focused on formalizing the agreement, Kyrgyz President Sadr Japarov told the Kabar news agency in an interview.
“Once these tasks are completed, the intergovernmental commissions will sign the documents, followed by the foreign ministers. After these procedures, the agreement will be ratified by the parliaments of both countries. Then we, the presidents of the two countries, will sign the document. An exchange of diplomatic notes will follow. After that, it will take another 1–2 years for the demarcation work to be carried out. Only then the process will be fully completed,” Japarov said.
He further emphasized that the most important aspect is that both sides have reached a bilateral agreement.
The Kyrgyz president reportedly noted that the decision was made considering the interests of both nations.
“When resolving border disputes between two countries, it’s impossible to consider only unilateral interests. A decision is reached only when the interests of both sides are accounted for. We have around 1,000 kilometers of shared borders, with many areas previously being disputed. In some cases, these areas were divided equally.
“Additionally, there are border villages arranged like a chessboard, with intermixed houses. This issue has also been resolved. Otherwise, border security would have caused significant inconvenience to both sides. If there are homes belonging to Tajik citizens on our side, the Tajik side will relocate them. Conversely, if Kyrgyz homes are on their side, we will relocate our citizens. New houses will be built for them elsewhere, with consideration for the size of their land plots. Thus, each square meter of land was taken into account when making decisions,” he said.
Once the demarcation process begins, full information will be provided, Japarov concluded.
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.
