Kyrgyz security body chief Kamchybek Tashiyev has noted in Maksat village that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to outline 112 kilometers of disputed areas along the mutual border until May 9, Kyrgyzstan’s 24.kg online news agency said on May 3.  

According to him, the parties reached a consensus on several disputed stretches of the border.   Drawing of border line in those disputed areas should end by May 9 and an agreement will be signed during a meeting of heads of the two countries, and then demarcation of this stretch of the border will be carried out.

A meeting of the intergovernmental commission on delimitation and demarcation of the mutual border was held in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region on May 2.

The parties reportedly discussed the settlement of the situation in the border areas.  They reached an agreement on intensification of work on further drawing of grade line of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in the remaining disputed areas.  The meeting ended with signing of a joint protocol.  However, the details of the protocol have not yet been disclosed. 

Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan began in 2002.  The countries share 976 kilometers of border – of which only 504 kilometers has reportedly been properly delineated, leading to tensions for the past 30 years.

Meanwhile, media reports say Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have completed the withdrawal of their military units from border areas as part of an agreed pullback following a series of deadly clashes last week.  The situation in the area is reportedly calm and stable after the withdrawal of the military units.