In this special edition of the CAPS Unlock podcast, you will hear a frontline report and in-depth discussion of one of the most significant regional developments in Central Asia in years: the signing of a border demarcation agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Partially recorded from the Al-Archa presidential complex in Bishkek, the episode opens with audio impressions from the day of the treaty signing, an event that marked the symbolic and practical reopening of a once-volatile border. The episode then transitions to an interview with two expert guests: former Kyrgyz ambassador to the United States and one-time journalist Kadyr Toktogulov and Tajik independent analyst Muslimbek Buriyev.

Together, they explore the significance of the treaty, the regional momentum it has created, and the delicate but determined diplomacy that brought two previously antagonistic neighbours to the negotiating table. Toktogulov and Buriyev express cautious optimism that the deal will lead to increased trade, improved cross-border relations, and a fresh narrative for the densely populated and geopolitically sensitive Fergana Valley.

The conversation also considers the broader implications: the potential for trilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan, the symbolic importance of the region resolving its own disputes without external mediation, and how enhanced economic interdependence could help defuse future tensions.

Get full access to Havli - A Central Asia Substack at havli.substack.com/subscribe