Central Asia's leaders sign historic border, friendship agreements

The Presidents Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan have signed a significant agreement on the junction point of their shared borders, solidifying cooperation between the three Central Asian republics.

The agreement was finalized during a high-level meeting in Khujand, the administrative center of Tajikistan's Sughd Region, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The signing ceremony took place at the residence of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Gulistan, near Khujand.

Alongside the border agreement, the leaders also signed the "Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship," which aims to strengthen ties and promote lasting peace and stability in the region. The declaration reflects the three nations’ commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and resolving potential disputes through peaceful dialogue.

Following the signing of a landmark border agreement, Presidents Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan participated in an online ceremony marking the inauguration of a significant power transmission line. The 500 kV transmission line, which connects Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is part of the Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000).

CASA-1000, a $1.16 billion initiative currently under construction, is set to facilitate the export of surplus hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, fostering regional energy cooperation and economic development.

During bilateral talks, Zhaparov and Rahmon discussed the current state and future prospects of Tajik-Kyrgyz relations, underscoring their commitment to deepening good-neighborly ties. "The leaders thoroughly discussed the state and prospects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation," said a statement from the Tajik presidency.

The meeting between Zhaparov and Rahmon took place just ahead of a trilateral summit with Uzbekistan, in which President Mirziyoyev also participated. Following Mirziyoyev's arrival in Khujand, Rahmon and the Uzbek president held bilateral discussions, culminating in the signing of a protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratification for the treaty on allied relations, first signed in April of the previous year.

On March 13, Zhaparov and Rahmon had already made significant strides toward resolving longstanding border disputes by signing an agreement on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border in Bishkek. The nearly 1,000-kilometre (621-mile) border between the two countries has been a hotspot for tensions, with violent clashes erupting in 2021 and 2022. The agreement aims to address these conflicts and pave the way for lasting peace and cooperation between the two nations.

By Vafa Guliyeva