Kyrgyzstan conducts active military preparations on the border with Tajikistan, with the expectation of resolving border disputes from a position of strength
Author: Sangar
Tajikistan, as one of the former Soviet republics, bordering Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and China has long settled its border issues with China and Afghanistan, and almost all disputes have been resolved with Uzbekistan. However, border disputes continue with the northern neighbor - Kyrgyzstan, which is becoming more and more complicated every day.
The length of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the latest map of the Soviet period, is 971 kilometers. There are more than 60 sections along the border of the two states, which are considered to be disputed territories. Conflicts constantly occurred in these territories. They have become especially acute in the last ten years. Sometimes these conflicts lead to human casualties. In addition, each time it is possible to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.
Studies conducted by the Tajik website "Point of View" show that in the 27 most significant incidents that occurred over the past 10 years before the events of April 28-30, 2021, the Kyrgyz side provoked conflicts in 21 cases. It is appropriate to emphasize that the research was carried out not based on data from the authorities but on the publications of the leading electronic publications of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, such as Asia Plus, Radio Liberty, and Kloop.kg, the press service of the Sughd region.
On April 28, 2021, because of the conflict provoked by the Kyrgyz side near the water facility "Golovnoe", the situation escalated so much that the conflict between representatives of the two communities escalated two days later into a major military clash between the two countries on several sections of the border. Only by the will of the presidents of the two states was it possible to stop hostilities.
After the events of last April 28-30, the Kyrgyz side was the most affected. Moreover, it, as can be judged by the measures to concentrate large military forces on the border, is preparing for revenge. A year ago, after the bloody events on the border of the two states, the mass media of Kyrgyzstan, scientists, public figures, politicians, using all possible resources, launched a real information war against Tajikistan, calling it an "aggressor country" at the regional and international levels, although only information about the location of the border troops Kyrgyzstan on the border today proves the opposite since it was the Kyrgyz military that unilaterally took control of many territories that belonged to Tajikistan at the time of the collapse of the USSR in the period from 2006 to 2021. Their actions, in fact, cannot be called anything other than "aggression", and the result - is "occupation". The news agencies of Kyrgyzstan at that time disseminated deliberately false information about the incidents, passing them off as truth, fakes circulated endlessly on the Internet, misleading the public in the Central Asian region and the world.
The government of Kyrgyzstan after last year's April events took a course toward the militarization of the border. There was a change in the governor of the Batken region bordering Tajikistan. Instead of the civilian Omurbek Suvanaliev, military specialist Abdikarim Alimbayev, who was deputy chairman of the State Border Service, was appointed as the authorized representative of the government in the region. The heads of the Batken and Leilek regions bordering Tajikistan were replaced. The government began to allocate more funds for military needs. The border troops began to be equipped with overage soldiers, new armored vehicles, weapons, including drones, drones, and sniper rifles began to come into their possession.
The fact that Kyrgyzstan will strengthen its armed forces, and increase its numbers along the border with Tajikistan, was openly spoken by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov. So, on October 21, 2021, Zhaparov personally took part in the ceremony for the transfer of 40 armored SUVs to the State Committee for National Security. At the end of December 2021, Kyrgyzstan purchased Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 unmanned aerial vehicles for the Border Service. Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev confirmed that Kyrgyzstan intends to purchase Orlan-10E drones from Russia.
At the end of March 2022, Kyrgyzstan held military exercises in Issyq-Kul called "Kalkan-2022", thereby demonstrating the combat capabilities of the Bayraktar TB-2 strike UAV and new military equipment.
At the end of March 2022, Kyrgyzstan held military exercises in Issyk-Kul called "Kalkan-2022", thereby demonstrating the combat capabilities of the Bayraktar TB-2 strike UAV and new military equipment.
Additional reinforcements have been deployed to the border with Tajikistan, and new military units are being created. The local population is armed. The border crossing with Tajikistan is completely closed. Residents of most settlements in the border area have been relocated. Buildings and structures destroyed during previous conflicts have not yet been repaired. Perhaps because the Kyrgyz Republic is preparing for war and considers it inexpedient to restore them, knowing that they can be destroyed again. The Kyrgyz side is trying to provoke a new conflict in order to start hostilities. In the period January-April 2022, several attempts of provocation against the Tajik military have already been made in order to kindle the flames of war. Understanding the complexity of the situation and the responsibility for the lives of people living on the border, Tajik border guards try to avoid conflicts.
Against the backdrop of active preparations for the war waged by Kyrgyzstan, the Tajik side has so far done absolutely nothing to demonstrate its military capabilities. They could become a deterrent for the Kyrgyz side.
Meanwhile, on the border with Kyrgyzstan, incidents continue to arise due to the fault of the Kyrgyz military, during which Tajik soldiers and civilians die. After each conflict, the military, and representatives of the executive authorities of the two countries meet, and sign agreements, and protocols, but after some time again, violating the agreements, the Kyrgyz side ignites a new military conflict.
The purpose of the provocations is clear - to do so in order to force the Tajik military to react harshly to these actions, as it was on April 30, 2021, in order to justify themselves for starting a war in the eyes of the CSTO, SCO, CIS member countries, which include both countries, before the international community to avoid international isolation in the event of an attack on Tajikistan.
