Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have made progress towards resolving their long-standing border disputes by agreeing on the delimitation of 94% of previously contested territory. This development was reported during a news conference in Khujand, the capiatal of Sughd province, on July 26, where Sughd governor Rajabboy Ahmadzoda provided an update on the negotiations, ASIA-Plus informs.
Ahmadzoda expressed optimism about the future resolution of the remaining border issues, stating,
"We believe that everything will be resolved positively in the near future, and the Tajik-Kyrgyz border will reopen soon."
He highlighted that representatives from both countries had visited disputed sections of the mutual border in Chorkuh and Vorukh from July 21-24.
"The commission is working actively and, God willing, the documents will be signed in the coming months," Ahmadzoda added.
He also mentioned that the next meeting of the commission is scheduled to take place in the Kyrgyz city of Batken from August 11-17.
Earlier reports indicated that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan had agreed on more than 90% of their mutual border by early February this year. The long-standing border dispute between the two nations has strained relations since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leading to frequent clashes along the common border in recent years.
The border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been a site of repeated unrest since the Soviet Union's collapse. Border negotiations between the two countries began in 2002. The countries share 972 kilometers of border, and unresolved issues have led to tensions for the past 30 years. Besides territorial disagreements, issues involving irrigation, smuggling, and illegal border crossings have exacerbated tensions.
The most recent major conflict occurred in the spring of 2021 when Kyrgyzstan unilaterally closed its border with Tajikistan following an armed conflict along a disputed segment of the border. This conflict resulted in the deaths of 36 Kyrgyz nationals, including two children. During these fierce confrontations, several schools, mosques, civilian homes, and administrative buildings were destroyed.
The closure of the border led to a decline in official trade turnover, though smuggling continued. The reopening of the border is expected to revive trade and improve relations between the two countries.
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