Afghan and Tajik border officers complete OSCE, UNDP border security training

Border Police Course Instructor David Razmadze demonstrates use of the rope system to rescue injured, 18 July 2013. (OSCE BMSC/Ilona Kazaryan)

DUSHANBE, 25 July 2013 – A total of 24 Afghan and Tajik border officers completed today a 10-day training course on international border management standards and methods. The course was organized by the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe in partnership with the EU-funded Border Management Northern Afghanistan project, which is implemented by the UN Development Programme.

Participants acquired theoretical and practical skills in a diverse range of topics, anti-trafficking; terrorism and extremism at borders; risk analysis; anti-corruption; human rights protection; how to deal with asylum seekers and refugees; "green" border surveillance; and modern technologies used in border management. The theoretical part of the training was reinforced through scenario-based exercises.

“This joint OSCE-UNDP initiative has the goal to keep Afghan and Tajik border officers up-to-date on international standards and modern methods in managing and securing borders. This builds the capacities of the border management agencies in Afghanistan and Tajikistan and supports their co-operation to counter transnational threats," said Ilona Kazaryan, the Chief of Development and Outreach at the OSCE Border Management Staff College.

William Lawrence, project manager of the Border Management Northern Afghanistan project, added: “We are pleased to assist in providing opportunities for co-operation, collaboration, communication and co-ordination between the border agencies across the international frontier between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. This professional training supports efforts to reduce crime and increase legal activities across the shared border and within borderland communities.”

The event is part of a series of courses organized at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in the framework of the Border Management Northern Afghanistan project.