Protocol No. 44, which was signed by the heads of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on October 2 in Bodkand, was called “historic”, “final” and “decisive” in the media. While some are hoping for a solution to the border disputes, there are still doubts and surprises.
After signing the new document , the two sides said that its implementation will provide a basis for solving the border problem between the two countries.
“Implementation of the protocol will solve any issue, all the problems that used to be the cause of the conflict on the state border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. I announce with all responsibility that the signing and implementation of the protocol is the will of the leaders of both republics,” said the head of the KDAM. Tajikistan Saymumin Yatimov on October 2.
The message from the Kyrgyz side had almost the same content. The Chairman of the Kyrgyz National Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kamchibek Toshiyev said, “this protocol was signed with the consent of the parties and it will become the basis for solving any border issue. God willing, we will soon make the final decision on finalizing the state border.”
The point that caused the controversy was that a journalist close to the chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan wrote on Facebook that the Tajik side has given up all its border claims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and the government of the Sughd region confirmed the meeting and the signing of the document, but did not explain the claims of the Kyrgyz journalist.
“If both sides are willing to compromise…”
The details of the new document have not been revealed, but some Tajik experts hope that it can be beneficial to both sides.
Nematullo Mirsaidov, a Tajik expert, said, “We must understand that Tajikistan never expects one hundred percent fulfillment of its claims. Of course, Tajikistan is ready to make concessions. Tajikistan would like Kyrgyzstan to be ready to make concessions. If both sides are ready to make concessions. This is a step forward.”
According to analyst Abdumalik Kadirov, the signing of this document may be one of the wishes of the Western superpowers, which was completed after the meeting of the heads of the Central Asian countries in the framework of 5+1.
“Today, the region is at a stage where the so-called “great game” has started anew. The superpowers of the world are trying to attract the region. Therefore, both the Kyrgyz and Tajik sides have realized that by force , solving the problem with the use of weapons is to the detriment of everyone, not only to the detriment of these two countries, but also to the detriment of the region,” he explained.
Truth or political trick?
At the same time, our interviewer called the claims of Nurgazi Anorkulov, a journalist close to Kamchibek Toshiev, that Tajikistan’s withdrawal from its border claims was “a political trick” to appease the internal society of Kyrgyzstan.
He added: “I don’t think that Tajikistan is weak enough to give up its land.” I emphasize again that all these news are only to raise the image of the current leadership of Kyrgyzstan inside the country.
Meanwhile, General Tokon Mamitov, the former deputy prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, expressed his surprise in a conversation with the Kyrgyz branch of Radio Ozodi, whether the parties have decided the fate of Tort-Kocho, Vorukh and other regions or not. Areas that have been in dispute for decades.
Nazirbek Borubaev, the special representative of the Kyrgyz government on border demarcation, told some of the country’s media that “the border problem has not yet been fully resolved, it cannot be resolved in one day. Yesterday, only the principle or method of work was harmonized. Negotiations are underway now.”
More than 300 kilometers of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, which is about 1,000 kilometers long, is not clearly marked. The dispute is over water, pastures and lands, which both sides consider themselves to be the owners of.
At the height of these disputes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, stated that the opposite side had usurped 2110 square kilometers of the territory of Tajikistan. In response, Kyrgyzstan declared Murgob and Jirgatol districts as disputed territories.
Source : Радио Озоди