Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have signed a border agreement which could potentially bring stability to Central Asia. The move follows three decades of conflict between the two former Soviet republics over water resources and land.
The deal — signed in Bishek by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon — is a sign of how relations between the two allies of Russia have improved since their last clash in autumn 2022.
“From now and forever, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be the border of eternal friendship,” Japarov said.
Japarov’s office said the accord would contribute to “strengthening security, stability and sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and in the whole of Central Asia”.
The two leaders said direct air links would resume and the border, closed nearly four years ago in May 2021, would reopen.
The deal involves an exchange of territory.
Kyrgyz authorities said Kyrgyzstan will receive about 25 square kilometres (nearly 10 square miles) from Tajikistan in exchange for about the same amount of land or for better access to shared water resources.
The accord stipulates that certain roads will be designated as neutral, and that neither side may hinder the use of agricultural or energy facilities in border regions.
Rakhmon hailed the “historic” agreement, which was concluded 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Relations between the five former Soviet republics in Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—have improved in recent years.
One by one, they have clinched border agreements designed to ease trade and enhance stability in the region, which is important for its resources and strategic location.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)—which comprises China, most Central Asian countries, Iran, India, and Russia—welcomed the Kyrgyz-Tajik treaty.
China, which has borders with both countries, has become a key player in Central Asia.
It is financing a colossal infrastructure scheme it calls the New Silk Roads, which aims to open up access to the mountainous region and facilitate trade with Europe.
Kyrgyz-Tajik Relations
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, two Central Asian neighbors, share a complex relationship shaped by a contentious border and historical tensions. Their 970-kilometer frontier, largely undefined since the Soviet Union’s collapse, has sparked recurring clashes over land, water, and resources.
Deadly conflicts in 2021 and 2022 claimed dozens of lives, displaced thousands, and highlighted the stakes, with both sides accusing each other of aggression.
Beyond the border, economic ties and regional security cooperation offer glimmers of hope. Both nations, reliant on remittances and Chinese investment, face shared challenges like poverty and instability.
However, domestic politics—marked by Tajikistan’s authoritarian grip and Kyrgyzstan’s turbulent democracy—complicate dialogue. While the latest deal signals progress, lasting peace hinges on addressing local grievances and fostering genuine reconciliation.
- Via: With Inputs from AFP
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