DPG Policy Brief
A Breakthrough in Central Asia: The Khujand Declaration
Authors Ambassador Phunchok Stobdan
Date: April 16, 2025
On March 31, 2025, the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed a major tripartite agreement in the historic city of Khujand, Tajikistan. The agreement delineates the trijunction point of their respective borders, following decades of disputes and border conflicts. Furthermore, the three leaders also concluded the “Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship”, heralding a remarkable shift in the region’s political landscape.
Prior to these developments, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had reached an agreement on March 13, 2025, settling their longstanding dispute over a 980 km long shared border in the Ferghana Valley.
In this policy brief, the author traces the troubled history of legacy disputes on regional boundaries since the early Soviet era of the 1920s, which have created considerable obstacles for nation-building efforts in these newly independent Central Asian Republics over the past 30 years. He points out that these Soviet-era border demarcations, which were intended to reflect the ethnic composition of the area, resulted in the creation of numerous enclaves that separated residents from their respective nations, leading to administrative challenges and conflicts over resources. The situation in the Ferghana Valley, in particular, posed significant difficulties as it was divided among the three countries and was home to a diverse mix of Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz-speaking communities.
Over the past decade, efforts to resolve these disputes gained momentum as the regional dynamics improved, opening up prospects for diplomatic solutions.
This brief goes on to survey the political trends in Central Asia that lie behind the broader efforts to enhance stability, as well as the region’s shared challenges of connectivity and trade routes, the threat posed by extremists such as the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, and the impact of the ongoing conflict in Europe. The author observes that despite these challenges, as well as external geopolitical factors, particularly the influence of China and Russia, the Khujand Declaration marks a notable shift and signifies the willingness of these countries to independently strive for the larger goal of regional economic integration.
The author concludes with observations on the outlook for India’s relations with Central Asia, highlighting the region’s receptivity towards fostering closer ties with India. Since joining the SCO in 2016, India has initiated a structured dialogue with Central Asia in 2019, but commercial relations continue to lag behind. Given the region's proximity to India’s strategic periphery and importance for its security interests, New Delhi should adopt a forward-looking approach and formulate a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape in Central Asia.
To read this DPG Policy Brief Vol. X, Issue 14, please click “A Breakthrough in Central Asia: The Khujand Declaration”.
Prior to these developments, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had reached an agreement on March 13, 2025, settling their longstanding dispute over a 980 km long shared border in the Ferghana Valley.
In this policy brief, the author traces the troubled history of legacy disputes on regional boundaries since the early Soviet era of the 1920s, which have created considerable obstacles for nation-building efforts in these newly independent Central Asian Republics over the past 30 years. He points out that these Soviet-era border demarcations, which were intended to reflect the ethnic composition of the area, resulted in the creation of numerous enclaves that separated residents from their respective nations, leading to administrative challenges and conflicts over resources. The situation in the Ferghana Valley, in particular, posed significant difficulties as it was divided among the three countries and was home to a diverse mix of Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz-speaking communities.
Over the past decade, efforts to resolve these disputes gained momentum as the regional dynamics improved, opening up prospects for diplomatic solutions.
This brief goes on to survey the political trends in Central Asia that lie behind the broader efforts to enhance stability, as well as the region’s shared challenges of connectivity and trade routes, the threat posed by extremists such as the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, and the impact of the ongoing conflict in Europe. The author observes that despite these challenges, as well as external geopolitical factors, particularly the influence of China and Russia, the Khujand Declaration marks a notable shift and signifies the willingness of these countries to independently strive for the larger goal of regional economic integration.
The author concludes with observations on the outlook for India’s relations with Central Asia, highlighting the region’s receptivity towards fostering closer ties with India. Since joining the SCO in 2016, India has initiated a structured dialogue with Central Asia in 2019, but commercial relations continue to lag behind. Given the region's proximity to India’s strategic periphery and importance for its security interests, New Delhi should adopt a forward-looking approach and formulate a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape in Central Asia.
To read this DPG Policy Brief Vol. X, Issue 14, please click “A Breakthrough in Central Asia: The Khujand Declaration”.
