Kyrgyzstan announced a possible presentation of territorial claims to Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan may make territorial claims to Tajikistan based on discovered legal and historical documents. This was stated by the head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan Kamchybek Tashiev, Interfax writes.

Tajikistan, according to him, continues to make territorial claims to Kyrgyzstan.

“A few days ago we found new documents according to which many areas of Kyrgyzstan were transferred to Tajikistan. We can confirm this with legal and historical documents. If Tajikistan does not renounce its territorial claims, then we can present our territorial claims on the basis of these documents,” Tashiev told reporters, adding that Kyrgyzstan “has the strength and capabilities to return the lands that were transferred to its neighbors tens and hundreds of years ago.”

The head of the State Committee for National Security noted that Bishkek plans to “resolve all issues with neighbors” only through peaceful methods and through negotiations, and a repetition of last year’s “fact of aggression” will not be allowed.

On September 14, 2022, a conflict occurred on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, during which dozens of people were killed on both sides and more than 200 citizens were injured. In the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan, which borders Tajikistan, a state of emergency was introduced on September 17. According to Kyrgyzstan, the Tajik side began shelling border guards and positions of the Kyrgyz side in the areas of Eki-Tash, Chyr-Dobo and Kum-Mazar and Orto-Boz, using mortars, tanks and other armored vehicles. Bishkek later announced that Tajikistan was trying to seize the territory of the republic. Tajikistan, in turn, accused Bishkek of attacking the Dushanbe border outpost using heavy weapons.