Research On Relationship Between Uzbekistan And Tajikistan

Relationship between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan bares the heaviest tension, or even conflict, among the Central Asian countries. Contradictions between the two countries exist on the issue of territory, borders, water resource, cross-border railways and gas. Among all the issues, water resource contradiction is the most sensitive and most crucial problems of the relations between the two countries, more over, this issue has shown signs of been politicized.The relationship between the two countries has further deteriorated after Tajikistan announced the resumption of the construction of the Rogun hydropower station. Other disputes between the two countries have also shown linkage reaction, which, to a certain extent, made the relation between the two countries fall into a zero-sum game. The existing bilateral relation problems have left over from the history between the two countries after their independence. And the problems gradually emerged and rose to the national level, which is caused by a variety of factors. First of all, by sorting out the communication history of the two countries and their main ethnic groups, we can learn that the two main ethnic groups of the two countries had experienced the identity exchange of the rulers and the ruled, and the inequality of political status and its influence also pave the way for the tension between the two countries. Second, the difference between the two main cultures has led to psychological isolation between the two countries, which increased the difficulty in negotiation, and lead to a lack of mutual trust. Third, the geopolitical situation between the two countries results in significant interdependence of the basic resources between the two countries. However, the practical interest considerations lead to completely contrary of needs and goals of resource allocation. Fourth, disputes over water, gas, territorial and boundary, cross-border railways are the left over problems by the overall planning of the Soviet Union. These problems did not become a major problem in the Soviet era, mainly because the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Central Committee took effective coordination and management mechanism. However, this mechanism no longer plays a role after the collapse of the Soviet Union and no reasonable coordinate mechanism has been formed. Most of all, the two countries are unwilling to make concessions.Although the bilateral relationship is very tense, so far, the there didn’t occur any major diplomatic conflicts, and there is no military confronts on the national level, which shows that the two countries are relatively restrained.To avoid the escalation of the conflict is in line with their national interests and the objective requirements to maintain their domestic economic development and social stability of the two countries. On the other hand, the United States, Russia, China and other major powers, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international organizations have also played an active role in the coordination of relations between the two countries.Tensions between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have brought uncertain factors to security situation in Central Asia, also led to implementation difficulties of the regional agreement in which the two countries had jointly participated, and will result in the increasing difficulty of regional integration. In addition, the tense relationship between the two countries has also caused distress for Central Asia’s main external forces-the United States, Russia, China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international organizations.In terms of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are members of the Central Asian countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regards Central Asia as core area, the bilateral relation of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has caused a great impact on the development prospects as well as the level of cooperation of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is necessary to coordinate relations between the two countries under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Mechanisms in the field of security, cultural, economic construction and interactive coordinate of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are essential to resolve disputes between the two countries. Deepening security cooperation, strengthening the interaction in the economic and cultural under the frame of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are unable to be omitted. However, as the disputes of the two countries involve in complex historical and realistic factors, thus to use political means or management and technical means to resolve the disputes is a dilemma faced by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In addition, how to cooperate with other national and international organizations to carry out specific issues also has to be taken into account. Therefore, the effective coordination of bilateral relationship between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, is still a goal of Shanghai Cooperation Organization to explore rather than a reality. We look forward that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to play a greater role on this issue.