DUSHANBE, 20.09.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – Yesterday, following the meeting of the Tajik and Kyrgyz working groups, the Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan Saimumin Yatimov and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers — Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic Kamchybek Tashiev signed the protocol on the return additional forces and military equipment to their places of permanent deployment.

In order to prevent further escalation on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, based on good neighborly relations and in pursuance of previously reached agreements, the parties came to a mutual agreement on normalizing the situation.

According to the signed protocol, the parties undertake to completely stop hostilities, cease the use of weapons and ammunition in the border areas of Sughd and Batken regions, and to withdraw troops and military equipment from the border territories of both regions to their places of permanent deployment.

A joint inspection of border outposts and border commandant’s offices will also be organized for the presence of heavy military equipment, which is not characteristic of border structures.

“If it is found, coordinated measures will be taken to remove it to a distance of at least 10 kilometers from the border areas,” according to the protocol.

Also, a joint working commission made up of responsible officials from representatives of local government bodies, employees of the border troops, security and internal affairs agencies of both states will be organized to monitor the implementation of the reached agreements specified in this protocol. Based on the results of the work of the working commission, protocols will be drawn up to be signed by the heads of both commissions.

“Strict implementation of the provisions of the signed protocols is mandatory for both parties,” the document emphasizes.

Authorities of the parties were instructed to conduct a thorough investigation of the armed conflicts that took place between September 14 and September 17, 2022 in the border areas of Sughd region in Tajikistan and Batken region in the Kyrgyz Republic. The conflicts resulted in casualties, infliction of significant moral harm and material damage to both parties.