The Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan barrier is a 45 km-long (28 miles) separation barrier built by Kazakhstan along part of its border with Uzbekistan. Construction began on October 19, 2006. The 8 ft high barbed wire fence which includes searchlights spans the Saryagash and Maktaaral administrative districts of southern Kazakhstan[1] and is situated along heavily populated towns and cities of eastern Uzbekistan. It is being built to curb drug smuggling across the border.[2]
Before 2002, 96% of the international border between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan had been delimited. In 2001, after mutual agreement, the border line in three disputed areas, (Bagys, Arnasai and Nsan), were left undrawn. In September 2002 Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan fully resolved the route of the 2,440 km border.[3]