Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan Border Demarcation Completed

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have completed negotiations to demarcate their common border, which had been disputed for many years. The final meeting of the two countries' topographic-legal working groups was completed in the town of Batken in Kyrgyzstan on August 11-17. This has been reported by the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan. "During this meeting, the parties continued the discussion and exchanged proposals on the description of the passage of the Tajik-Kyrgyz state border line in the remaining sections," the Committee commented. At the end of June, The Times of Central Asia reported that 94% of the borderline between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan had been fully delineated. The conflict was caused by uncertainties regarding the exact demarcation of the border between the two republics, which spans some 980 kilometers. With its scant natural resources and dwindling water supplies, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of numerous armed conflicts. This situation arose after the collapse of the USSR – the parties could not agree on the ownership of dozens of disputed territories. The borderless areas have become a zone of conflict between the local population and the border troops of the other country. The last major conflict took place on September 16, 2022, as a result of which hundreds of people were killed and injured on both sides. Huge material damage was caused to the infrastructure of the border areas of the regions of Sogd (Tajikistan) and Batken (Kyrgyzstan).

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister: Demarcation of Tajik Border Will Be Completed in October

At a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyz foreign minister Zheenbek Kulubaev said that 90% of the state border has already been demarcated. Kulubaev said that, as the border issue is very sensitive for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, working groups from the two countries have been holding weekly meetings, alternating between Bishkek and Dushanbe. "We are still harmonizing several points. The heads of state have an understanding and instructed us to finalize the border issue shortly. I assume the issue will be resolved in the coming months,” Kulubaev said. The foreign minister emphasized that the negotiations will likely be completed by October. The length of the state border between the countries is 980 kilometers, and negotiations on delimitation have been going on since late 2002. Failure to settle this issue has periodically led to border conflicts, including with the use of firearms. Still, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan remains closed. The reason behind the closure is the military clashes between border guards in 2022. At that time, heavy weapons were used, and dozens of people were killed.