Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sign historic border agreement

Presidents Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan and Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan have signed a landmark agreement on their state border, according to the 24.kg news agency. For more than 30 years, the two nations struggled to resolve a border dispute, leading to periodic violent clashes.

The two leaders signed the historic agreement in Bishkek, drawing applause from their respective delegations.

The agreement will now be submitted to both countries’ parliaments for review. Upon ratification, it will return to the heads of state for final approval.

Japarov and Rakhmon also authorized the reopening of the border, which had been closed since May 2021 following the first armed conflict between the two nations. Kyrgyz state television channel Ala-Too 24 aired footage of residents from both countries crossing checkpoints and hugging.

Kyrgyz media outlets have hailed the agreement as «the deal of the century.» Azattyk.org highlighted the stark contrast: Japarov and Rakhmon, who had never exchanged handshakes before, were now seen embracing.

In late February, Kamchybek Tashiev, head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security, presented the border agreement to parliament. As part of the deal, the two countries exchanged territories where conflicts had erupted in the past.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan moved to resolve their border dispute after a violent escalation in September 2022, when both sides blamed each other for the outbreak of hostilities.

According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, the shelling killed 63 citizens and forced the evacuation of approximately 140,000 people, while Tajikistan reported 83 casualties.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended his condolences and urged both nations to seek a peaceful resolution. Following negotiations, Bishkek and Dushanbe agreed to end the armed confrontation.