Rahmon informed Mirziyoev about the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border

Today, 20 September, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev communicated by a telephone with President of Tajikistan Imamali Rakhmon.  This is reported by the press service of the President of Tajikistan.

During the conversation, Imamali Rahman also informed the President of Uzbekistan about the latest developments in the situation on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border.

At the same time, the heads of states discussed the results of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Samarkand.  From this perspective, Imamali Rahman praised the organization and content of this important regional event.

The President of Tajikistan expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the warm welcome and traditional hospitality and highly appreciated the adoption of the Head of State at the meeting.

The sides also discussed some topical issues of friendship, good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of strategic partnership and alliance.

Earlier, we reported that a protocol was signed between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to stabilize the border situation and establish peace between the two countries.

Border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

The situation on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan deteriorated on 14 September, following the beginning of an exchange of fire between border guards in three sections of the Botken district.  Despite the fact that the parties had agreed on several occasions to a ceasefire, the agreements had failed on each occasion.

Officials of Kyrgyzstan accused Tajikistan of transporting heavy military equipment to the border and using «all available arsenal» for shelling the territory of Kyrgyzstan.  The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the country reported that 136,000 people were evacuated from the conflict zone, and a state of emergency was introduced in the Botken region.

At the same time, Tajikistan accused Kyrgyz forces of firing «heavy weapons» at a number of settlements on the Tajik border.  The two countries are now following the ceasefire and disengagement arrangements.

Due to the fact that about 70 disputed areas on the border of the two countries are not marked, there are regular conflicts.  As of July 2022, approximately 600 kilometers of the country’s 972 kilometers of borders had been agreed upon.