Border - The Times Of Central Asia

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Russia

New Russian Border Rules Cause ‘Probka’ for Kazakhs at the Border

Russia’s introduction of a trial of new entry procedures for foreign citizens, including Kazakhs, on June 30, 2025, has led to massive traffic jams at border crossings, despite official claims that registration through the ruID app is voluntary. In practice, drivers without a required QR code have been turned back at the border, stranding cargo and sparking frustration on both sides. Bureaucracy Meets Gridlock Under the updated rules, citizens from visa-free countries, including Kazakhstan, must present a QR code generated no later than 72 hours before arriving at the border. Officially described as voluntary, the requirement has effectively become mandatory. At the Zhaisan border crossing in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region, dozens of heavy trucks have lined up, with queues reportedly stretching 10 kilometers. Aslan Arzymbekov, head of the regional emergency response department, attributed the delays directly to the new QR code requirement. Many drivers had not registered in advance and were left waiting for hours or even days. Local emergency services and military personnel have been providing food, water, and medical assistance to stranded drivers, who have been sleeping in their vehicles amid poor sanitary conditions. “I’ve been standing here since yesterday. My electronic queue is about to expire,” said truck driver Mikhail Khegai. “Reservations Are Expiring. There Is No Passage.” Drivers say they had secured a place in the electronic queue but were unable to reach the checkpoint in time. As a result, trucks carrying time-sensitive or perishable goods are missing delivery deadlines, causing financial losses and fraying business relationships. “It’s a terrible mess. We've been stuck here for seven kilometers. There's nothing to eat. Everyone is waiting,” said carrier Farkhatbek Tursynaliev. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, congestion has also been reported at the Zhana Zhol checkpoint in North Kazakhstan and the Bokei Khan crossing in Atyrau region. While local police are attempting to manage traffic and assist drivers, the core issues remain unresolved. Officials Offer Conflicting Explanations Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Department in Aktobe region cited roadworks on the Samara-Shymkent highway, ongoing since May 13, as a contributing factor. Temporary traffic lights and barriers have reduced throughput, with completion expected in early July. Entrepreneurs, however, have lodged nearly 200 complaints in the first three days of the new rules, according to the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken.” Ruslan Kuishinov, the chamber’s deputy director for legal affairs, called for a more transparent and organized system. “We would like to have a visual storage display so drivers can see their status and proceed calmly,” he said. The Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan has rejected claims that QR codes are mandatory, attributing the delays to seasonal increases in border traffic. “No additional requirements, including QR codes, are being imposed on citizens,” the embassy stated via its official Telegram channel. Nevertheless, drivers and border officials on the ground continue to assert that without a QR code, entry is denied, regardless of what official statements claim. While framed as a voluntary digital upgrade, the ruID system has effectively created a bottleneck for both people...

Border

Kyrgyzstan Advances New Cross-Border Transport Corridor with China via Bedel Pass

Kyrgyzstan is advancing plans to develop a new international transport corridor through the Bedel checkpoint on the Chinese border, aiming to boost cross-border trade and reduce reliance on high-altitude routes that are often impassable in winter. Bedel Corridor Gains Momentum The proposed corridor was a central focus during Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobaev’s July 8 visit to Beijing. Torobaev met with Chinese corporate leaders to discuss the construction of the Barskoon-Uchturfan-Aksu highway, which would link Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region with China’s Aksu Prefecture in Xinjiang via the Bedel Pass. The Bedel checkpoint, located in a remote mountainous region of southeastern Kyrgyzstan, was first opened under a simplified regime in September 2024. It lies roughly equidistant from Karakol and Aksu and currently operates with temporary infrastructure. According to the Kyrgyz government, the route’s full-scale development, including a modern highway and internationally compliant border facilities, is scheduled for completion by 2027. Bedel will become Kyrgyzstan’s third automobile crossing point with China, alongside the Irkeshtam (Osh Region) and Torugart (Naryn Region) passes. These older routes are frequently disrupted by severe winter weather. The new corridor is expected to offer a more reliable and time-efficient alternative for cargo moving between Xinjiang and Kyrgyzstan, reducing dependence on the longer Kashgar-Torugart-Naryn-Bishkek route. In Beijing, Torobaev and Chinese officials agreed to organize reciprocal business visits and establish joint working groups with representatives from both governments to coordinate the project. The corridor is expected to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s role as a regional transit hub, facilitating the re-export of Chinese goods to third countries. Bilateral trade between Kyrgyzstan and China reached $23 billion in 2024, an eightfold increase in recent years. Progress on China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway During his Beijing visit, Torobaev also attended the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail, where he emphasized the strategic importance of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project. The 523-kilometer line includes 304 kilometers running through Kyrgyz territory. Construction officially began on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad. Once complete, the railway will link China’s Kashgar with the Kyrgyz cities, Torugart, Makmal, and Jalal-Abad, before continuing to Andijan in Uzbekistan. The project is designed to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo annually and carries an estimated investment of $4.7 billion. Torobaev noted that the Makmal transshipment station will serve as the core logistics hub on the Kyrgyz side, featuring customs infrastructure, storage facilities, and multimodal services to ensure smooth cargo transit between China and Uzbekistan. “The CKU railway is the shortest route between East and West,” he said. “It will connect China to European and Middle Eastern markets, forming a vital transport artery.” Torobaev also announced a proposed rail extension between Aksu in China and Balykchy in Kyrgyzstan via the Bedel checkpoint, which would further enhance the regional transport network.

Drone Crash

Another Suspected Drone Discovered in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau Region

On June 19, fragments of a suspicious object resembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were discovered in the Karakiyan district of Kazakhstan’s Mangistau Region, near the Bolashak border station. According to the Mangistau Region Police Department, the UAV debris was found in a remote area, far from populated settlements. Authorities emphasized that "no damage" was reported. The incident is currently under investigation in cooperation with the relevant agencies. Potential Iranian Link Suggested While officials have not confirmed the origin or type of the device, speculation is growing. The KazTAG news agency reported that the shape of the debris may resemble that of an Iranian Shahed-136 drone. These drones have been reportedly supplied by Iran to Russia since late 2022 and used extensively in the war in Ukraine. According to independent sources, Russia may have paid Iran approximately 1.8 tons of gold, worth around $104 million, for a consignment of Shahed-136 drones. Despite denials from both Moscow and Tehran, the drones' deployment in Ukraine has been documented by independent journalists and military experts. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin sources have speculated that it could be a British Banshee drone used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. [caption id="attachment_33143" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: TCA[/caption] Pattern Emerges Along Western Border This is not an isolated occurrence. Since early 2024, at least three similar incidents have been recorded in the West Kazakhstan Region (WKR). UAVs or drone parts were discovered in the villages of Ualy (February 18), Atameken (March 18), and Zhanibek (March 25). Regional media have noted that some of the discovered objects bear a resemblance to French-made Crecerelle reconnaissance drones, produced by Sagem. However, no official conclusions have been issued. Broader Security Implications The repeated discovery of drone-like objects in Kazakhstan raises broader security concerns, particularly given the proximity of Russian regions frequently targeted by Ukrainian drones. Strategic installations in Russia’s Saratov region, including airfields and oil depots, have been hit multiple times. In this context, the unexplained appearance of aerial objects near Kazakhstan’s borders is concerning. Experts stress the need for transparent investigations and enhanced monitoring of airspace, especially near critical infrastructure and transportation corridors. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense previously stated that UAV fragments found in February and March 2025 may have originated from activities at Russia’s 929th State Flight Test Center, located near the Kazakh border. The facility, named after Chkalov, is used by the Russian Ministry of Defense for testing military aircraft.

Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Border

Kazakhstan Extends Border Crossing Closure with Uzbekistan Until September

The Tajyen-Daut Ata border checkpoint between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will remain closed to pedestrians, passenger vehicles, buses, and light cargo transport until September 1. The extension was agreed upon by both governments, according to Kazinform, citing Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee under the Ministry of Finance. Officials explained that the continued closure is necessary to ensure traveler safety and facilitate the progress of major construction and renovation work at the site. Ongoing repairs include the installation of metal structures, engineering systems, and the comprehensive refurbishment of buildings. In parallel, from May through August, Kazakhstan’s national road company, KazAvtoZhol, will construct a new road in the neutral zone separating the Tajyen (Kazakhstan) and Daut Ata (Uzbekistan) checkpoints. Uzbekistan is expected to carry out similar infrastructure upgrades on its side of the border. The checkpoint was originally closed on February 1, to accommodate the reconstruction project. Kazakhstan subsequently proposed extending the closure for an additional four months, a request that was supported by Uzbek authorities. Officials have advised citizens of both countries to factor in the closure when planning their travel and transport routes. This development aligns with broader efforts by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to upgrade regional transport and trade infrastructure. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, both nations are investing in projects aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, including transit links to Pakistan. Kazakhstan is also positioning itself as a key player in the Middle Corridor, part of the larger Trans-Caspian International Transport Route connecting Central Asia with South Asia and Europe.

Trade

Uzbekistan to Establish Free Trade Zones Near Kyrgyz Border

Uzbekistan is preparing to establish new trade and industrial zones near its border with Kyrgyzstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during a government meeting on April 16. The Andijan region currently exports approximately $200 million in goods to Kyrgyzstan each year. To boost trade further, Mirziyoyev proposed the development of industrial zones in Kurgan-Tepe and Khojaabad, modeled after similar projects on the Afghan border. He directed officials to engage with local businesses and select one of the two sites to begin detailed planning. Addressing Border Bottlenecks Concerns were raised during the meeting over logistical challenges at the “Dostlik” checkpoint in Khojaabad. Residents and freight operators have expressed frustration with persistent delays. Railway Project to Transform Regional Trade Mirziyoyev also highlighted the strategic importance of the planned Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway. Once completed, the railway is expected to reduce shipping times by up to a week and shorten the overall route by 1,000 kilometers. Cargo volumes could increase tenfold, he noted. The agreement to build the railway was signed on June 6, 2024, in Beijing. The 523-kilometer route will connect Kashgar in China to Andijan in Uzbekistan, passing through Kyrgyz cities including Torugart and Jalal-Abad. The project includes the construction of modern logistics hubs, warehouses, and terminals, and is intended to significantly strengthen transport links between Central and East Asia.

Khujand Summit

Historic Khujand Summit Paves Way for Peace in the Ferghana Valley

The presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered in the northern Tajik city of Khujand on March 31 for a meeting that is decades overdue. Among the agreements the three signed were one fixing the border where their three countries meet. Prior to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s arrival, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon exchanged ratified documents of the border agreement between the two countries. Rahmon and Japarov, via video link, also launched the Datka-Sughd power transmission line, a major step in the CASA-1000 project that aims for both their countries to supply electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agreements might not seem monumental, but they represent a major departure from the troubled past the three governments have had in their border areas. Trouble in Paradise The three countries share the Ferghana Valley, an area roughly the size of Costa Rica that is home to more than 20% of Central Asia’s population. Since the Central Asian states became independent in late 1991, the Ferghana Valley has also been the region’s hotbed of tension. The Ferghana Valley is the cradle of ancient Central Asian civilization. Some living there today say it was the location of the Garden of Eden, and it is not difficult to see why. The Valley is abundant in fruits and vegetables and has extensive arable and grazing land. It is surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and south, and the rivers that flow from these mountains supply ample water. Since independence, the Ferghana Valley has been the most dangerous place in all of Central Asia. The arbitrary borders Soviet mapmakers drew to divide Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan left many problems for the three after they became independent states. Agreement on where Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is came only in late 2022, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan just signed the agreement on delimitation of their border on March 12. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan The roots of Islam lie deep in the Ferghana Valley. There were already calls for Shari’a law in Uzbekistan’s section of the valley just months after Uzbekistan declared its independence. The most serious security threat to Central Asia to date originated in the Ferghana Valley in 1999 and 2000. In early August 1999, a group of some 20 armed militants from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) appeared in southern Kyrgyzstan, captured a village, and took the villagers and subsequent government negotiators hostage. The IMU leaders were from the eastern Uzbek city of Namangan. They were connected to the protests in Uzbekistan in late 1991 and later joined the Islamic opposition in neighboring Tajikistan’s 1992-1997 civil war. The peace accord that ended the civil war called for opposition fighters to either join the Tajik armed forces or disarm. There was no longer any need for the opposition’s foreign fighters, and the final phase of disarmament was underway by the summer of 1999. In mid-August, the Kyrgyz government paid a ransom for the hostages’ release and the departure of the IMU militants, but this...