The Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border will be opened on March 13.  The official opening of the border crossings on both sides will take place in the presence of high-ranking government officials, an informed source within the Sughd regional administration told the Asia-Plus news agency in an interview.

The source did not specify whether the presidents of the two countries will participate in the opening of the border. However, it can be assumed that they will take part in this historic event, possibly in an online format.

It is worth recalling that the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, departed for Kyrgyzstan for a two-day state visit on March 12.

During the visit, the parties will discuss various aspects of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as other issues being of mutual interest.

Following the meeting of heads of state, a package of cooperation documents will be signed, though the specifics have not been disclosed.

Why the border was closed

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

Tensions between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have remained high until recently, owing to a border dispute, as well as other issues involving irrigation, smuggling, and illegal border crossings.

This dispute has led to clashes between the two countries.  Kyrgyzstan unilaterally closed the border with Tajikistan in spring 2021 after an armed conflict along a disputed segment of the border left 36 Kyrgyz nationals, including two children, dead.

During fierce armed confrontations, a lot of schools, mosques were destroyed in addition to the houses of civilians; administrative buildings were also attacked by fire.

At that time, Bishkek stated that the border would be opened only after its complete demarcation.

When the border closed, official trade turnover plummeted to nothing.  Smugglers continued to ply their wares across the border, however.

The parties agreed to intensify the process of determining the line of the common border. Between 2022 and 2024, dozens of meetings were held on the demarcation of the border between the two countries. By mutual agreement, the meetings of working groups were held alternately in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, but the details of these meetings were not disclosed.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan first announced in December that they had tentatively reached agreement on the delimitation of their common border.

On February 21 this year, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek initialed the draft documents on the delimitation and demarcation of the border between the two countries.