Afghan, Tajik border officers complete OSCE, UNDP border management training

Participants of the Afghan Border Police Border Management Awareness Course practice first aid skills in Dushanbe. (OSCE BMSC/Ilona Kazaryan)

DUSHANBE, 14 February 2013 – Sixteen Afghan and Tajik border officials received certificates for successfully completing training at the OSCE Border Management Staff College today.

The course was organized by the OSCE Border Management Staff College and the UNDP-implemented, European Commission-funded Border Management Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) project.

Border officers from Afghanistan and Tajikistan were trained in behavioural analysis, recognizing impostors, counterfeit and forged documents, drug detection techniques, “green” border surveillance, anti-corruption awareness, leadership and management skills, human rights and anti-trafficking, migration management and international migration law and first aid skills.

The course was taught by international experts and representatives of the Customs Service and Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan.

“The professionals studying at the OSCE Border Management Staff College help ensure the safety of their countries by securing borders against illegal activity, dangerous goods and high-risk individuals. Strengthening their skills is an important part of the OSCE’s work to enhance security in the region,” said Hans Peter Larsen, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

“This course is evidence that co-operation between Afghanistan and Tajikistan is moving forward,” William Lawrence, BOMNAF Project Manager added. “As 2014 approaches, the position and capability of Afghan security forces is continuing to improve. As the Afghans become increasingly responsible for the security of their own country, we intend to continue such training to develop an effective border police agency.”