Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan reach landmark border agreement after decades-long dispute

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have reached a historic border agreement, potentially ending a century-long dispute. The deal, hailed as a breakthrough, covers delimitation, water, and infrastructure issues. If finalized, it could ease tensions and support political, economic, and social cooperation.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have reached a historic agreement on their border delimitation, potentially resolving a century-long dispute, a top Tajik official announced Friday.

Saimumin Yatimov, head of Tajikistan’s National Security Committee, credited Presidents Emomali Rahmon and Sadyr Japarov for the breakthrough.

“After long, difficult, but ultimately effective work, documents on water-energy and road-transport infrastructure have been prepared and initialed. The most important historical document that was initialed on February 21 is the agreement on delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border,” Yatimov said.

“If they are legalized, it will bring an end to the 100-year dispute between the two fraternal countries concerning the border issue. These historical documents, once signed by the heads of state, will serve the historical aspirations of our peoples. They will serve the political, social, cultural, economic, and other interests,” Yatimov added.

The agreement is a key step toward easing tensions between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which have faced sporadic border clashes. Their 970-kilometer (600-mile) border has been a source of disputes over land and resources since the Soviet Union's collapse.

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