Pass Irkeshtam

Иркештам originates in the city of Osh in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The road goes south along valleys of the rivers Taldyk and Гулчо to village "Sary-Tash" (the Yellow Stone – in transfer with Kirghiz). On the West there is a road to Dushanbe, Tajikistan through a valley Kyzyl-Suu, on the south the road to mountain-Badakshansky area of Tajikistan and Murghab through pass Kyzyl Арт conducts, and the road to the Chinese border lays on the east.

The road is in bad condition, however involves not small interest, being in the shortest way from Fergana valley to China.

In Soviet times of the relation with China were the extremely tense, that can be appreciable on border, however now the countries are allies and propagandise friendly relations.

The boundary post is named in honour of the Russian officer who was lost during revolt басмачей in 1931. At present officers of the Osh regional boundary service bear a post on the Kyrgyzsko-Chinese border. It is difficult enough mission and year of service on Иркештаме it is considered as 2 years of service in any other point of the country.

The pass lays in 238 kilometres from Оша and in 250 kilometres from Kashgar.

Many years pass have been opened only for commercial objectives, and for passengers have been opened only in 2002. In 2003 the governments of two states had been entered a visa regime according to which citizens of both countries should have corresponding documents for border crossing.