Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan close to fully resolving border disputes 

The Kyrgyz and Tajik governments have reached delimitation agreements on more than 90 percent of their shared border, the countries’ security services said. 

The agreements come after the 2021 and 2022 deadly clashes in disputed sections of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, more than 400km of which had remained undefined since the Soviet collapse. 

On Wednesday, at talks between the Tajik security chief Saymumin Yatimov and his Kyrgyz counterpart Kamchybek Tashiyev, the sides resolved disputes concerning 120km of the shared border, reports said. 

“Overall, we have delimited more than 90 percent of the state border,” Tajik security chief Yatimov said. Wednesday’s talks were the latest in a series held since the clashes. 

Yatimov added that both countries were interested in resolving the border issues between them to ensure their security, and social and economic development. 

Kyrgyz security chief Tashiyev said the negotiations on the disputed sections were “almost finished”.  

“There are a few sections that we are still working on, and that is expected to be done soon,” he said.  

On Monday Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said that all Tajik-Kyrgyz border issues will be resolved before spring 2024. 

The countries started border delimitation negotiations as far back as in 2002, defining by 2020 519km of the 980km-long joint frontier. 

The undefined sections included several disputed areas, mainly around the Tajik enclave of Vorukh on Kyrgyz territory.  

In September 2022 tensions in the disputed areas triggered four days of armed clashes, which killed 37 and injured another 36 civilians on both sides, according to Human Rights Watch. The fighting also displaced thousands of people on both sides.  

Another armed confrontation in April 2021 left at least 41 people dead and wounded hundreds.  

The two countries sped up the border delimitation process after the clashes.  

The talks were threatened in September when Kyrgyz security chief Tashiyev claimed that Kyrgyzstan had found «historical» documents that show that parts of Tajikistan used to be Kyrgyz territory. 
 
The Tajik Foreign Ministry expressed concern over Tashiyev’s remarks and summoned the Kyrgyz ambassador. 

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