The Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CTSO), Imangali Tasmagambetov, said in an interview with Tajik media that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are managing to peacefully resolve their border conflict. “The will of the political leadership of the two countries made it possible not only to start and successfully carry out the delimitation of the state border, but also to reach a political solution to the problem,” said Tasmagambetov.
The problem of a common border between the two countries arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The two countries both laid claim to lands rich in water resources. Because of this, there are periodic conflicts between citizens of border villages and residents of enclaves. In some cases, domestic clashes have turned into armed clashes with the use of heavy weapons. One of the bloodiest episodes occurred in September 2022. Military and civilian infrastructure on both sides of the border was destroyed and hundreds of people were injured.
The situation in the disputed territories is also monitored by the CSTO, of which Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are both members.
Representatives of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan meet once or twice a month to agree on the demarcation of the disputed section of the border. The heads of the national security services were also involved in negotiations. To date, the sides have agreed on about 800 kilometers of the common border from the previously disputed 975 kilometers.
Kyrgyz authorities are making every effort to finally resolve the border issue. The head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Kamchibek Tashiyev, commented: “In order not to repeat all this [fighting on the border] we need to resolve the border issue. We are working on it. God willing, we hope it will be resolved. We have found a common language, the work is going on in a good way. As soon as everything is resolved, we will open the border and live in good neighborly relations. Neighbors are not chosen. God gave us a neighbor, and we must live with him in peace and harmony.”
