The Ferghana Valley of Central Asia has one of the most complicated and troubled border zones in the world. In many areas, the border is not demarcated at all. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan border even often forms a “chessboard”, where the two countries crisscrossed each other. The confusing border has created tension and bloody conflicts recently, usually initiated by issues of water and land. The Ferghana Valley is further complicated by the numerous of enclaves of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan inside Kyrgyzstan. Many of the roads were built during the Soviet Union, when the border between Central Asian republics were meaningless. But now, many Tajik roads have to pass Kyrgyzstan, and many Kyrgyz roads have to pass Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. When conflicts happen, the people one country usually block the road, to choke the people of the rival country. Therefore, currently Kyrgyzstan is investing millions of dollars to build many new roads to bypass the troubled enclaves and borderlines. In this picture is a Kyrgyz border patrol in Chinese-constructed road in Batken region, nearby the troubled Tajik enclave of Vorukh.
Batken, Kyrgyzstan, 2015