UNODC Continues Strengthening the Tajik-Afghan Border

Shahrituz, Tajikistan, 05 May 2018. - The Opening Ceremony of the "Tagnob" Border Post located along the Tajik-Afghan border took place after construction works performed under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Initiative on Strengthening Control along the Tajik-Afghan border with financial support of the Government of Japan.

The Opening Ceremony of the Border Post was attended by Colonel-General Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of the Border Forces of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS RT), H. E. Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, Ambassador of Japan in Tajikistan, Ms. Ashita Mittal, the UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia.

"I believe that today's opening ceremony is a new step for future increasing cooperation between the Border Forces and the partners" - said Colonel-General Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of the Border Forces of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS RT) in his welcoming speech.

Following the withdrawal of the Russian border troops from the Tajik-Afghan border in early 1990-s, the Border Forces of the SCNS RT with the support of the international community has designed a new concept of strengthening the border through rehabilitation of border outposts. The UNODC Initiative has become one of the key supporters of this concept, and constructed and rehabilitated seven border outposts: "Bakhorak", "Bog", "Sari Gor", "Shogun", "Yol", "Yakhchi Pun" and "Takhti Sangin" located along the borders between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The Border Post "Tagnob" is the eighth site constructed with the support of UNODC.

"I had a chance to see the site before reconstruction. Today I am pleased to see that the border post is so much different from what it used to be." - shared H. E. Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, Ambassador of Japan in Tajikistan.

Apart of the construction works, the Border Post has been supplied with office and domestic equipment, furniture and other appliances. Also, the officers of the border outposts and posts of this stretch at the Tajik-Afghan border were trained on all border control fields.

The UNODC Initiative on Strengthening Control along the Tajik-Afghan Border is being successfully implemented in line with the "National Border Management Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan" adopted for 2010-2025, and focuses on enhancement of the expert potential of border officers at the border posts and outposts along the Tajik-Afghan border, at the Shahrituz Border Detachment stretch. This specific stretch is considered as the most vulnerable in terms of illicit drug trafficking.

Ms. Ashita Mittal, the UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, expressed appreciation to the Border Forces of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan for the good level of cooperation and the support to the UNODC's national and regional initiatives.

The Initiative is a part of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia (2014-2019) which provides specialized equipment, trainings to the law enforcement officers. In particular, the initiative in coordination with the Government of Tajikistan established the Canine Center and Forensic Laboratory in line with international standards.

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