Mirsaid Rahmonov
Asia is the largest continent in the world with its Central and South Asian regions, having their unique geographical, cultural, historical and natural resources. Relations between the peoples of these regions established in ancient times using the Great Silk Road and expanded with trade and traveling. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian countries gained independence and established their relations with states based on their national principles and laws.
The statesmen and people of modern Tajikistan, with the creation of a peace-making school and its constructive initiatives, consider the political, social and economic development and expansion of the state, along with maintaining independence and strengthening relations between states, as the main condition, and are constantly striving to strengthen and consolidate all of them.
Thus, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon once again paid special attention to the pressing issues of the planet, and on September 23, 2024, during his speech at the UN Future Summit in New York, United States of America, proposed the adoption of a special United Nations resolution, the “Decade of Peacebuilding for Future Generations.”
The diplomatic relations of Tajikistan with Kyrgyzstan established on January 14, 1993. Both neighboring and friendly countries have continued their cooperation by establishing political contacts at the highest and highest levels, and the leaders have repeatedly paid visits to each other’s countries.
From his first days in power, the President of Tajikistan, with the slogan “I bring you peace”, has always maintained a strong determination and has supported peace and harmony around the world. He has constantly strived to strengthen unity and resolve existing problems through diplomatic means.
One of the clearest examples of his continuous efforts is to resolve border dispute with Kyrgyzstan, which in recent years, through the instigation and propaganda of unscrupulous and incompetent individuals, have caused misunderstandings between the people of both countries, and almost brought both neighbors and friends to war and conflict, bringing them to the brink of bloodshed.
However, through wise leadership, wisdom and courage, patience and loyalty, and adherence to national interests, the leaders of both countries, in particular the President of Tajikistan, with his title as the Founder of Peace and Unity, embarked on the path of peace, and on March 12-13, 2025, he paid a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, concluding a peace and friendship treaty in order to protect future generations, laying the foundation for strengthening security and stability in the region, guaranteeing a peaceful and prosperous life.
Read More: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan Sign Border Deal to End Conflict
With the wise leadership and guidance of such stalwarts of the both nations, relations between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have entered a new stage of development, which is considered an important factor in stability, mutual understanding, peace and lasting friendship not only between these two countries, but also for the entire Central Asian region and the world.
The countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan closely cooperate within the framework of international and regional organizations, including the UN, CIS, SCO, and OSCE make extensive use of the experience of supporting each other’s international initiatives. In 2018, Kyrgyzstan, along with 190 UN member states, supported the United Nations resolution, proposed at the initiative of Tajikistan, entitled “UN Conference on the Mid-Term Comprehensive Review of the Goals of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028″.
Tajikistan also supported the draft resolution entitled “Nature knows no borders: transboundary cooperation – a key factor in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity”, which was adopted at the initiative of the Kyrgyz side at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
Thus, Tajikistan, based on the principles of friendship and good neighborliness between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, on the basis of which the Tajik and Kyrgyz peoples have lived and created since time immemorial, will continue to contribute to the continuous development of all bilateral relations.
South Asia geographically divided into separate countries, and the state of Pakistan gained independence in 1947, inheriting a weak economy from the British colonialists. Its leadership, through sound management, was able to achieve significant successes, transforming it into a strategic and influential country in the region and the world. In this context, the Central Asia-South Asia Power Transmission Project (CASA-1000) is a regional project worth 1.2 billion US dollars to provide connectivity benefits to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Read More: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Settle Border Dispute
The project’s cornerstone was laid in May 2016 by the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. CASA-1000 is one of the largest power projects in Central Asia and South Asia, providing a high-voltage power transmission line connecting the region, not only benefiting the four countries, but also contributing to improving the power transmission system and encouraging Central and South Asian countries to strengthen inter-regional cooperation.
It should be noted that regional organizations, forums and countries of the world, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, congratulated the leadership and brotherly peoples of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on this landmark agreement that marks the end of the long-standing border dispute, noting that “We are confident that this historic event will open a new era of cooperation and progress in the region.”
In fact, the peace agreement and the friendship treaty between the two countries bring to mind moments full of joy and happiness, the radiant faces, and the eyes filled with tears of joy of the noble and honorable citizens of these two “neighborly and kin” nations.
War is a calamity and a disaster that has never brought and will never bring good results. The negative concepts and consequences of war and conflict have been well described in the works of many writers, including Leo Tolstoy, who warned humanity of its harms, losses, and disasters, and saw the basis and main solution in negotiations in the light of wisdom, knowledge, and human connections.
Thus, Mirza Tursunzoda, Chingiz Aitmatov and Faiz Ahmad Faiz consider peace, friendship, and neighborliness to be among the highest human values and the basis for the development of a happy and prosperous life for people.
In conclusion, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as active members of regional and global organizations and forums, including the UN, the CIS, and the SCO, have excellent relations. By signing this historic agreement, they will realize the bonds, hopes, and aspirations of the people and nation in the spirit of mutual understanding, unity, tolerance, and peace and stability, and make a worthy contribution to freedom, peace, and prosperity in the region and the world.
It should be noted that on March 13, based on the results of the negotiations, the heads of state of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a Joint Statement on the further strengthening of friendship and good neighborliness and an interstate Treaty on the State Border, which was welcomed and appreciated by countries and organizations around the world.
At the same time, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergey Lebedev sincerely congratulated the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS Emomali Rahmon, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov on the signing of the Treaty between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan on the State Border, expressing confidence that the signing of the Treaty will serve as a necessary basis for the further development of bilateral multifaceted cooperation and will serve the fundamental interests of the two countries, as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States .
Thus, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan welcome the restoration of peace, reconciliation and friendly relations with great joy and sincerity, sincerely love it, maintain close cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations, including the UN, CIS, SCO, CICA and the OSCE make extensive use of the experience of supporting each other’s international initiatives.
Both countries can continuously exchange constructive ideas in cooperation with key nations in the region, including Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and promote people-to-people exchanges, develop trade, economy and tourism, and expand people-to-people diplomacy.
In this context, Pakistan, India, Iran and China, as active members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also contribute more and better to the creation of energy and industrial integration of nations and the reduction of conflicts.
To sum up, it is necessary for war-hit countries to learn from the peace, friendship, and neighborliness of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, avoiding war, hostility, and separation which causes the suffering and poverty, and contribute for peoples peace prosperity of the world, using the formula or acronym “PEACE”, which originates from the peace school of Tajikistan.
I would like to conclude with a poem dedicated to Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan friendship, peace, and cooperation, written by me, believing that only through peace can people live healthier, wealthier, and in true friendship.
Sulhu dustivi hamjawori safa awarad,
Jangu dushmanivu judai bala awarad.
Bibayad hama bahri sulhi khalqi jahan,
Girifta sabaq zi sulhi kurgizu tajikon
(Peace, friendship, and neighborliness bring prosperity
War, enmity, and separation bring disaster
Everyone should work for the peace of the peoples of the world
Let’s learn from the peace of the Kyrgyz and Tajiks)
*Mirsaid Rahmonov is a senior researcher and a South and Central Asia expert at the Institute of Asian and European Studies, Tajikistan.*
The Diplomatic Insight is a digital and print magazine focusing on diplomacy, defense, and development publishing since 2009.
