The Failure of Settlement on Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border Issues: a Lack of Diplomacy?

Abstract

For almost two decades, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have experienced a number of border disputes due to the unresolved issues of demarcation and delimitation of borders. However, recent escalations of tension over the disputed areas have shown that unresolved border issues can deeply affect Kyrgyz-Uzbekrelations. About 36 sections with about 200 kilometers of the 1378 kilometersof common border have not been delimitated yet. The number and distance ofunresolved sections were relatively high before the parties reached agreementon certain sections in September 2017. This paper examines Kyrgyzstan andUzbekistan’s efforts for the settlement of their border issues in the post-Sovietera. The study argues that there had been a lack of dialogue and diplomacybetween two countries in resolving border disputes and concludes that thereis a need for new approaches to speed up this process.