Borders of Tajikistan

The article examines the formation of Tajikistan’s external borders, its current status, security threats due to geographical features, and prospects for cross-border cooperation. Special attention is given to the establishment of the country’s Border Service, as well as the role of Russia and the CSTO in border protection and regional security. The stages of the development of Tajikistan’s border service are identified, beginning with a period when border protection was entirely carried out by Russian border troops and the 201st Division, followed by the involvement of units from other CSTO member states, and culminating in the current phase, where the responsibility for first-line border security has been transferred to Tajikistan’s border forces. However, Tajikistan is not yet fully capable of ensuring comprehensive security along the entire perimeter of its external borders independently. As a result, CSTO units, particularly the Russian Border Troops Group, continue to play a crucial stabilizing role. Some involvement from third countries and international organizations is emerging, but their role remains minimal at present. The article also focuses on the delimitation of Tajikistan’s borders with neighboring countries, analyzing country-specific challenges. Economic cross-border cooperation is explored, highlighting stable trade growth with Uzbekistan’s border regions. The 2025 completion of border delimitation and resolution of disputes with Kyrgyzstan open new trade prospects. In contrast, despite strong economic ties with China, cross-border trade and joint production remain limited due to poor infrastructure and low population density. Cooperation with Afghanistan is hindered by persistent security threats affecting Tajikistan and other CIS states

Computer security · Political science · Central Asia Education and Culture · China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations · Computer Science · Soviet and Russian History