The heads of a number of departments of the Sughd region reported on the possible resumption of the work of checkpoints on the border with Kyrgyzstan in the near future. In May 2021, the Kyrgyz authorities unilaterally closed the border with Tajikistan “until problematic issues are resolved.”
“Currently, preparations are underway to reopen the checkpoints,” Zafar Makhmadiyev, head of the regional customs department, told reporters last week. – The goal of the authorities of the neighboring state is the opening of borders. Our border was not closed. They closed the border unilaterally. Every day there are meetings and conferences. From the other side of the border, people come and pray in our mosques.”
The prosecutor of the Sughd region also reported on the positive dynamics of the negotiations. “They don’t want war, neither do we. Previously, residents of Kyrgyz villages located near Bobojon Gafurov district came to hold weddings and other festive events in Khujand. They are now saying that they want to walk around Khujand, buy the necessary products there,” Furkat Khojazoda said at a press conference.
Tajik and Kyrgyz officials say work on describing the state border line is proceeding at an accelerated pace.
At the beginning of the month, the head of the Sughd region, Rajabboy Ahmadzoda, gave a good assessment of the work of the intergovernmental commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the Tajik-Kyrgyz state border.
Last month, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev said that negotiations with the Tajik side would continue “at a more active pace.”
At the end of December 2022, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov announced his intention to complete work on clarifying the Kyrgyz-Tajik border by May next year. Earlier, Japarov said at the people’s kurultai in Bishkek that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had reached a preliminary agreement on the border . According to him, documents on the border will be signed during the trip of the Tajik delegation to Kyrgyzstan. The date of the visit of the Tajik delegation was not reported.
On February 17, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin told reporters that in a year and a half the parties had completed the design description of the 102 km long Tajik-Kyrgyz state border line. “In general, the total agreed line of the common border between the two countries today is about 626 km,” the diplomat said.
It is not known when the remaining sections will be described. Uncertain sections of the state border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the main factor of tension between Dushanbe and Bishkek. Because of them, small and large-scale conflicts often arise.
Source: Rus Ozodi
