Kyrgyzstan parliament approves border accord with Tajikistan, paving the way for stronger ties

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has ratified a new border agreement with neighboring Tajikistan, resolving a long-standing dispute that has repeatedly fueled conflict between the two Central Asian nations.

The decision, which also included two other bills related to separate agreements signed alongside the border deal, was approved in three readings, according to a statement by Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Council.

Several parliamentary committees held a joint meeting to review and endorse the bills. “The settlement of the borders will strengthen the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples and contribute to the cessation of disagreements and conflicts between them,” said Turgunbek uluu Nurlanbek, the parliament’s speaker. He added that the ratification would also foster enhanced political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

On Thursday, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon signed a state border agreement in Bishkek, further solidifying the accord. The nearly 1,000-kilometer border has been a recurring flashpoint, with severe clashes in recent years—three days of fighting in 2021 claimed the lives of 36 Kyrgyz citizens and 19 Tajik citizens, while two days of violence in September 2022 left at least 100 people dead and forced the evacuation of around 140,000 residents.

The ratification of this border deal marks a significant step toward lasting peace and stability in the region, ensuring that historical disputes give way to a future of cooperation and mutual development.

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