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Ferghana Valley

Cementing Peace in the Ferghana Valley

The Ferghana Peace Forum was just held in Tajikistan’s northern city of Guliston. There were some useful proposals and discussions during the September 28-29 event, but the greatest significance of this peace forum is that it happened at all. For most of the 35 years since the three countries that share the Ferghana Valley – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – became independent, the three governments were often at odds with each other, and the valley was the most dangerous part of Central Asia. Keeping the Momentum This was the second Ferghana Peace Forum. The first was in Uzbekistan’s eastern city of Ferghana on October 15-16, 2025. The title of that first forum was “Fergana Valley: Uniting Efforts for Peace and Progress,” and it followed the historic agreement the presidents of the three countries signed in Khujand, Tajikistan, on March 31, 2025, fixing the point where the borders of the three countries meet. The three presidents had met before at multilateral events, such as summits of the Commonwealth of Independent States or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. But the Khujand meeting was the first time just the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan had met. The Ferghana Valley is one of the most densely populated and fertile areas in Central Asia. Its communities long predate the borders that now divide the valley. Those lines were drawn as internal Soviet administrative boundaries and became international frontiers after 1991. The discussions in Guliston were about how to expand cross-border movement, trade, and mutual development. The heads of the three provinces that border each other in the Ferghana Valley were in Guliston: Khairullo Bozorov from Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Province, Rajabboy Ahmadzoda from Tajikistan’s Sughd Region, and Mamirjan Rakhimov from Kyrgyzstan’s Batken Region. EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais also attended and addressed the forum, alongside representatives from the EU, OSCE, UN, and other international organizations, along with officials and experts from the three Central Asian countries. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, summed up the purpose of the Guliston gathering, saying it was intended to turn mutual understanding into joint initiatives and projects. Among the main goals were facilitating cross-border movement, establishing joint ventures and facilities, educational exchanges between university students in Ferghana Valley cities, and even hosting children from neighboring countries at summer camps. These might seem like small matters, but for those who have watched events in the Ferghana Valley since independence in 1991, they mark a striking change. The third Ferghana Peace Forum will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2027. The Most Dangerous Area in Central Asia The borders drawn in Moscow during the years Central Asia was part of the USSR were quickly disputed throughout the region after the Soviet Union disintegrated. Nowhere was this more pronounced than in the Ferghana Valley, and predictably so. Agriculture and livestock remain important to livelihoods across much of the valley, so disputes over agricultural land and access to water were inevitable. As the...

Rule of law

Uzbekistan Strikes Down Ten-Day Border Detention Without Court Approval

Uzbekistan’s Constitutional Court has struck down provisions allowing people accused of breaking border rules to be held for up to ten days without a judge’s approval. The decision followed complaints about detention beyond the constitution’s 48-hour limit. The court adopted its ruling on September 22. It took effect on September 25, removing the legal basis for extended detention periods. The case reached the court through parliamentary ombudsman Feruza Eshmatova. Her office received six complaints in 2025–2026 concerning alleged unlawful administrative detention lasting more than 48 hours, according to the court’s account of the case. The challenged provisions were part of Article 288 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility. They covered violations of border regulations and rules at state border checkpoints. Officials could hold a person for up to three hours to prepare a report. If they needed to establish the person’s identity or clarify the circumstances, they could extend detention to three days, though they had to notify a prosecutor in writing within 24 hours. For someone without identity documents, a prosecutor could authorize detention for up to ten days. Neither extension required officials to seek a court order. The ombudsman challenged those powers under Article 27 of the Constitution, which bars detention beyond 48 hours without a judicial decision. The court agreed that the longer periods breached that guarantee. It also identified a gap in the code: the provisions contained no mechanism for obtaining judicial approval when officials wanted to hold someone longer. Notification or authorization by a prosecutor “must not replace a court decision,” the court said in its published account of the ruling. The decision concerns how long the authorities can hold someone without judicial oversight. It does not abolish border offenses or prevent detention beyond 48 hours when a court authorizes it. According to Gazeta, the ruling is final and cannot be appealed. The body responsible for the legislation has one month to bring it into line with the constitution. The court did not prescribe the replacement wording. The ombudsman’s office has also reported unlawful detention elsewhere this month. In a separate case in Nukus district, monitors found three people held without sufficient grounds at a medical facility for intoxicated people. None of the three was intoxicated. Police inspectors had taken them there while awaiting a court decision on placement in a special reception facility. Following the ombudsman’s intervention, one inspector received a disciplinary sanction. The cases of two others were referred for disciplinary consideration, and the materials were sent to the district prosecutor for a preliminary inquiry.

borders

Uzbekistan Reopens Termez-Hairaton Passenger Crossing with Afghanistan

Uzbekistan has reopened the Termez-Hairaton passenger crossing, restoring direct movement between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced via its official Telegram channel. While visa requirements remain in effect, the decision marks a significant step toward improving cross-border mobility and trade. Passenger movement across the strategic bridge had been suspended since 2021, complicating travel for Uzbek entrepreneurs. To reach Mazar-i-Sharif, just 75 kilometers from the Ayritom checkpoint, businesspeople were previously forced to take an all-day detour through Tajikistan. The resumption of direct access eliminates a major logistical barrier for exporters and traders. Officials say the reopening is expected to bring substantial benefits for Uzbek companies exporting goods to Afghanistan. Bilateral trade has been growing steadily, and the authorities project that the restored route will help push exports to $2.5 billion by 2026. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have also been working to deepen broader economic cooperation. During a visit to Kabul in August of last year, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov held talks with Afghan officials on expanding trade, strengthening energy collaboration, and partnering on key projects in copper, iron, oil, and gas. At that time, both sides agreed that bilateral trade could reach $1 billion in 2024, with the potential to rise to $3 billion in the near future.

borders

Uzbek Parliament Ratifies Border Agreement with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

On October 28, the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan’s parliament, the Oliy Majlis, ratified a law approving a trilateral agreement on the junction point of the state borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, according to the chamber’s press service. The agreement was initially signed on March 31 in the Tajik city of Khujand during a high-level meeting between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan. The leaders also took part in a remote inauguration of the Dostlik (Friendship) stele, which now marks the exact location where the borders of the three countries meet. Lawmakers emphasized that Central Asia is increasingly becoming a region of constructive dialogue, mutual trust, and regional cooperation, moving past a legacy of closed borders and unresolved territorial disputes. Umid Yakubkhodjayev, a member of the parliamentary committee on international affairs, defense, and security, stated that the agreement formally establishes the precise location of the tri-border junction and the delineation of border lines in the area. He noted that the deal would bolster good-neighborly relations, reinforce trust and strategic partnerships, and contribute to the international stature of the Central Asian region. The agreement also lays a legal foundation for expanding cross-border cooperation, enhancing trade, and launching joint infrastructure initiatives in neighboring regions. These efforts are expected to create jobs and raise living standards. The draft law was passed in its first reading and, by exception, was adopted immediately in all three readings. It has now been forwarded to the Senate and will enter into force upon presidential signature.

Driverless Cargo

Kazakhstan and China Pilot Driverless Cargo Transport Project

Kazakhstan and China have launched a pioneering pilot project called “Smart Customs,” which will enable the use of driverless vehicles to transport cargo across their shared border. The program is currently being tested at the Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (China) border checkpoints. Its main goal is to streamline customs procedures using high-tech solutions, with autonomous trucks as the project’s central feature. These unmanned vehicles are designed to cross the border automatically, removing the need for human drivers. The initiative was formalized during a working meeting between Zhandos Duisembiev, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee, and Zhixianwei, Party Secretary of the Chinese city of Tacheng in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement confirming their commitment to harmonize efforts, share expertise, and support digital innovation in logistics. The Smart Customs system incorporates several advanced technologies: A unified electronic declaration system recognized by both countries Fully digitized documentation and data processing Continuous, unmanned cargo movement across the border Automated navigation and operational control These innovations are expected to reduce border processing times, lower transportation costs, and improve operational transparency. The project also aims to support the development of logistics infrastructure along the border. Key objectives of the initiative include: Expanding annual cargo capacity to 10 million tons Establishing logistics hubs to relieve pressure on current infrastructure Creating employment opportunities and attracting investment Increasing exports of Kazakhstani agricultural products, including grain, oilseeds, meat, and processed goods According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Finance, the initiative is intended to strengthen the country’s position as a regional transit hub and to deepen trade relations with China. Kazakhstan has previously faced criticism over delays in customs inspections. A study by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in late 2024 found Kazakhstan had the slowest inspection times among Central Asian countries, averaging 2 hours and 26 minutes per cargo inspection. In comparison, Turkmenistan averaged 50 minutes, Uzbekistan 1 hour and 25 minutes, Kyrgyzstan 1 hour and 28 minutes, and Tajikistan 1 hour and 50 minutes. The rollout of Smart Customs is expected to significantly improve these statistics and help Kazakhstan match the efficiency of regional leaders in border processing. Autonomous cross-border freight transport has also been explored by Russia and China. Previous plans aimed to launch driverless cargo operations across the new Blagoveshchensk–Heihe Bridge, although that project has yet to materialize.

Israel-Iran Escalation

Israel Strikes Mashhad, an Iranian City Near Turkmenistan and a Hub for Central Asia Trade

Mashhad, a northeastern Iranian city near the border with Turkmenistan and a significant hub for trade with Central Asia, is among the targets hit by the Israeli military in the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran. The Israeli military said a strike on Mashhad’s airport on Sunday was the furthest since it launched airstrikes on Iran, including nuclear facilities, on June 13 and Iran promptly retaliated. The attack on the city highlights the potential fallout for some countries in Central Asia that do business with Iran across the border with Turkmenistan. “The IAF (Israeli Air Force) struck an Iranian refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran, approximately 2,300 kilometers from Israel. The IAF is operating to establish aerial superiority over Iranian airspace. This marks the longest-range strike conducted since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion,” the Israeli military said on X. Mashhad, which has a population of up to 3.5 million, is Iran’s second most populous city after the capital Tehran, which has nearly 10 million people. The northeastern city is an Islamic pilgrimage site and is the birth place of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader. U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media on Tuesday that “we know exactly” where Ayatollah Khamenei is hiding and that he is an “easy target” even if he is safe for now. Trump has also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” though it was unclear whether his comments meant the U.S. could directly join Israel’s military campaign against Iran. While the whereabouts of Iran’s supreme leader are not publicly known, Mashhad and other major Iranian cities have been thrown into turmoil by the Israeli attacks. Some people have fled to other towns or places in the countryside that they think might be safer. Flights have been canceled and there are reports of widespread internet disruptions. Mashhad is about 75 kilometers from the nearest point on the border with Turkmenistan, and a driving distance of about 275 kilometers to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s capital to the northwest. Last month, Iran and Turkmenistan signed an agreement aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $3 billion, the Tehran Times reported. The neighbors also agreed to establish joint free trade zones, build up border markets, ready a bilateral gas contract and take other steps to develop economic cooperation. In April, Iran and Turkmenistan agreed to start a cross-border passenger train as a way to strengthen economic ties. The route would link Mashhad with Merv, a city in Turkmenistan. The extent of disruption to these economic plans is unclear as fighting between Israel and Iran continues. Fears of a wider war are circulating and numerous countries, including those in Central Asia, have appealed for an end to hostilities.