Bishkek (TDI): Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has highlighted the role of direct diplomacy, enhanced military readiness, and regional mediation in resolving the long-standing border conflict with Tajikistan, praising Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his pivotal intervention.
Speaking in the second part of the documentary “President”, aired on Kyrgyzstan’s Region TV, Japarov recalled that after deadly clashes along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in April 2021, he decided to travel to Dushanbe for face-to-face talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, despite opposition from some advisers, including State Committee for National Security Chairman Kamchybek Tashiyev. The ten-hour negotiation initially ended without a resolution.
“We talked for many hours, but at that time we could not reach an agreement,” Japarov said in the documentary.
The 2021 conflict, sparked by disputes over infrastructure near the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Tash. The two-day confrontation involved heavy weaponry, including mortars, armored vehicles, and helicopter gunships, resulting in 54 fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and mass civilian displacement.
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In response, Japarov said, Kyrgyzstan began modernizing its military, acquiring advanced equipment such as Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı and Aksungur drones. By the time clashes resumed in September 2022, he claimed that the balance of power had shifted. “By then, the forces were already equal, and we had begun to gain air superiority,” he said.
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Despite military improvements, Japarov emphasized that diplomacy ultimately resolved the dispute. He credited President Mirziyoyev with helping both sides seize the opportunity for dialogue, according to The Times of Central Asia.
“At summits, I told Rahmon, ‘Let’s sit down and talk.’ At first he refused. The second time, he agreed. I must say the role of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was very significant. He persuaded us not to miss the moment and to reach an agreement,” Japarov stated.
