How did the long-term conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border end?

The long-term conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the border with many armed clashes and casualties has come to an end. This achievement was the result of intensive negotiations, diplomacy and peace initiatives initiated during the tenure of the Kyrgyz President Sadir Japarov. Yeni Şafak took a brief look at these conflicts.

Historical roots of the conflict

The 972 km long border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was also disputed during the Soviet era. In the 1920s and 1930s, many enclaves were created in the process of national-territorial demarcation between the Union Republics of Central Asia, the borders were often drawn without taking into account the ethnic, geographical and economic reality.

One of the main points of the conflict was the Vorukh enclave of Tajikistan, which is surrounded by the territory of Kyrgyzstan. Residents of the border areas of the two countries faced problems related to water, pastures and roads. After the breakup of the USSR in 1991, administrative borders became state borders, which led to the intensification of old conflicts.

According to the Tajik side, more than 230 incidents related to the use of weapons have occurred on the border in the last 12 years. Kyrgyzstan, in turn, accused Tajikistan of territorial claims and the use of armed forces to fuel the conflict.

Escalation in 2021

On April 28, 2021, armed clashes took place in the area of the "Golovnoy" water distribution point on the Isfara River. The Tajik side wanted to install surveillance cameras, which caused dissatisfaction of the Kyrgyz population. The firing started and spread to other parts of the border.

According to the Kyrgyz side, the Tajik military used heavy equipment, including tanks and helicopters. As a result of the conflict, 36 Kyrgyz people were killed, 3 of them were military personnel, and the rest were civilians. 190 people were injured, more than 58 thousand residents of Botken region were evacuated. Tajikistan reported that 20 people, including 11 military personnel, were killed and 88 were injured.

The short-term ceasefire reached as a result of the negotiations did not solve the problem. The border remained unstable.

A massive conflict in 2022

The events of September 2022 were the bloodiest event in the history of Kyrgyz-Tajik relations. On the eve of the SCO summit to be held in Samarkand on September 14, firing began in the border area of Kex. Both countries blamed each other for the start of hostilities.

On September 16, the conflict escalated: artillery, armored vehicles and aircraft were used. Explosions and destruction of infrastructure were reported in the border areas.

It was reported that 63 people were killed and more than 300 people were injured in Kyrgyzstan. According to Tajikistan, 83 people were killed, including civilians. As a result of the conflicts, 140,000 people were evacuated, dozens of houses and infrastructure were destroyed.

On September 20, 2022, the parties signed a cease-fire agreement, but the border has once again become a zone of tension.

Sadir Japarov's role and peace initiatives

After President Sadir Japarov came to power in 2021, complex measures to solve the border problem began. Japarov said that resolving the conflict is a priority for his administration. Under his leadership, diplomatic efforts were intensified and high-level negotiations began.

In January 2023, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reached an agreement on the delimitation of 15 kilometers of the border. Despite the progress, about 6% of the line remains undefined, and the risk of further incidents remains.

The historic contract of 2024

On December 4, 2024, a meeting of the heads of government delegations of the two countries, Kamchibek Tashiev (Kyrgyzstan) and Saymomin Yatimov (Tajikistan) was held in the city of Botken. At the meeting, the parties announced that the process of describing all remaining sections of the border has been completed.

"The border delimitation process is almost finished, only legal processes remain," said Saymomin Yatimov, head of the Tajik delegation.

Kamchibek Tashiev confirmed that the parties finally reached an agreement. Final documents will be finalized in the coming months.

The completion of border delimitation and demarcation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was a big step towards stability and peace in the region. This will prevent new conflicts, improve living conditions in border areas and strengthen bilateral relations.