Following talks between top security officials, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on June 5 reached an agreement to end a tense border standoff.

Co-chaired by chiefs of the state committees for national security of the two countries, a working meeting of the joint interstate commission took place at border point 12/9 of the Karamyk segment of the mutual border last Saturday, June 5.

The two sides signed a protocol to end the standoff.  Both countries agreed to:

- move border posts 3 kilometers from the disputed area;

- move troops and military equipment to their places of permanent deployment;

- make decision on the use of pastures in this area;

- preliminarily coordinate any actions along the mutual border with co-chairs of the parties;

- make sure that border guard units of the parties will follow the line of conduct;

- give media outlets only information agreed by both parties;

- instruct topographic working groups to demarcate the border section;

- carry out explanatory work among the population of border areas.

The parties agreed to strictly adhere to the paragraphs of this protocol.   

Recall, tensions escalated along a disputed segment along Tajikistan’s common border on June 4, with both sides accusing the other of violating previous agreements.

Thus, the Kyrgyz side accused Tajik troops of placing a container overnight on what Kyrgyz officials called "a disputed area" along an undemarcated section of the border at Unzhu-Bulak in the Chon-Alai district of the Osh region.

Tajikistan border service’s press center service rejected the Kyrgyz statement, saying in its statement that in accordance with an agreement within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission, some stretches along the mutual border have been defined, and therefore, Tajik border guards currently patrol the agreed stretch of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border.