OSCE trains Special Unit officers of Tajikistan's Border Troops on sustaining field operation
Twenty-five Special Unit officers of Tajikistan’s Border Troops started the course on Sustaining Field Operational Capacity on 12 July in the Regional Training Center of Tajikistan's Border Troops in Shahrinav district. The training course is conducted within the framework of the Patrol Field Capacity Building project through the promotion of Regional Cooperation, financed by the Republic of France and implemented by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.
The French Ambassador in Tajikistan Michel Tarran, Deputy Commander of Tajik Border Troops Colonel Kishvarsho Khushvakhtov, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Ilgar Ibrahimli and the Head of Political-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Jukka Tuononen participated in the opening ceremony of the training.
The French Ambassador Michel Tarran emphasised that “the security of the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan is a major concern not only for Tajikistan but also for other countries in Central Asia and beyond for European countries too, because they all belong to one regional space. That is the reason why France decided to give a special grant to support the border reinforcement programme led by the OSCE.”
“The OSCE remains committed to partnering with Tajikistan in support of its border management and security agenda,” said Ilgar Ibrahimli, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “We believe that trilateral cooperation between the OSCE, the French Republic and Tajikistan’s Border Troops will help in combatting the threats from outside the border areas including illegal cross-border movements, drug trafficking, terrorism and violent extremism and trafficking in human beings,” added Ibrahimli.
Colonel Kishvarsho Khushvakhtov expressed his gratitude to the OSCE for long-term cooperation and support and noted that the project includes not only training activities but also technical support for improving the capacity of Tajikistan's Border Troops in tackling illegal activities in border areas.
In a four-week course, the participants will be able to strengthen their skills and knowledge of topography and pathfinding, first aid related to battlefield injuries, tactical patrolling including individual and group camouflage techniques and radio communications. National border regulations, gender awareness, risk assessment and patrol report writing will also be the focus of the training. International experts will lead military mountaineering and daily physical training exercises.