UN Chief hopes for peaceful settlement of Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border disputes

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will resolve their border disputes peacefully, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

During a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Guterres praised Kyrgyzstan’s successful border delimitation with Uzbekistan and expressed confidence that the Tajikistan border issue will be resolved diplomatically through negotiations.

The Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border spans around 980 km, with over 90% settled but several disputed sections. This unresolved border has led to multiple conflicts between local residents and military personnel. Guterres emphasized the complexity of border delimitation in the Ferghana Valley, where borders are “like a puzzle.”

Japarov presented Guterres with a certificate naming a mountain peak after the United Nations, underscoring Kyrgyzstan’s cooperation with the international body in resolving regional disputes.