Tajik state-run news agency Khovar says Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed on another more than 10 kilometers of the disputed stretch of their shared border.

A meeting of the topographic working groups of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan reportedly held in the Tajik northern city of Buston (formerly Chkalovsk) on March 12-17.

Citing the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS), Khovar says the parties have agreed on another 10.76 kilometers of the shared border. 

The meeting reportedly resulted in signing of an appropriate protocol.

“The parties will continue work on delineation of the remaining disputed stretches of their shared border at the next meeting that twill take place in Kyrgyzstan,”  Khovar says.  

Recall, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have reportedly agreed upon 90 percent of previously contested territory.  In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the State Committee of Land Management and Geodesy of Tajikistan Orif Khojazoda, who is also chairman of the Tajik topographic working group, noted on February 8 that the parties have agreed on delimitation of 889.45 kilometers of their shared border to date. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that an agreement addressing the long-standing border dispute between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is set to be signed in March this year.  The announcement followed discussions between Fidan and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe on January 10.  The Turkish top diplomat’s visit to Kyrgyzstan the day prior reportedly also featured discussions on the impending agreement. 

The border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.   Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan began in 2002.  The countries share 972 kilometers of border and unresolved border issues have led to tensions for the past 30 years.