Residents of the border areas of the districts of Isfara (Tajikistan) and Batken (Kyrgyzstan) organized a joint cleanup event on the grounds of their shared border crossings. Zubaydullo Shomadov, a representative of the Isfara administration, informed Asia-Plus about the initiative.
The event that took place on January 22 brought together more than 400 participants.
During the cleanup, roads and drainage ditches between the "Guliston" and "Kyzyl-Bel" border checkpoints were cleared of trash and debris. Preparations for leveling the road were also completed, with paving expected to begin in the coming days.
After the cleanup, residents from both sides shared a meal of the traditional "Friendship Pilaf" to celebrate their collaboration.
Progress on border delimitation
In December of last year, officials from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan announced the completion of the descriptive work on their shared state border. Working groups have since been finalizing the documentation of the delimitation process.
This milestone was over 20 years in the making. Talks on defining the border between the two countries began in 2002 but progressed slowly and sporadically until 2022. As of that year, only slightly more than 50% of the 972-kilometer border had been defined.
Frequent disputes over water, land, roads, and pastures on contested border sections led to regular conflicts between the two nations, sometimes involving military personnel. In 2021, two major armed clashes resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. Consequently, in May 2021, Kyrgyzstan decided to close its border with Tajikistan.
The last major incident accelerated negotiations. Since the fall of 2022, several meetings on border delimitation have taken place. Working group sessions alternated between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, though details of these meetings were not disclosed.
In early August 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev reported that only a few unresolved issues remained and that they would be addressed within two to three months.
By October, Kamchybek Tashiyev announced the imminent conclusion of the process. At that time, about 59-60 kilometers of the border remained undefined.
A step toward peace and cooperation
The joint cleanup event and shared meal are seen as symbolic steps toward fostering peace and goodwill between the two communities, who have endured years of tension. Both sides now anticipate the full resolution of border issues and hope for a future of strengthened cooperation and stability.
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