DUSHANBE, January 17, Asia-Plus - There are approximately 50 of the Tajik-Afghan border on the Tajik side (Shuroobod stretch of the border) that are effectively unguarded, Tajik border service chief, Colonel-General Saydamir Zuhurov remarked at a meeting with journalists on January 16.     

According to him, it is connected with inconvenient stationing of frontier posts and the mountain relief of area.  “Even in the Soviet era, this area was not controlled by border troops and there were no any barrage works there,” Zuhurov stressed.  

He also reminded that more than 21 kilometers of barbed wire and two frontier posts in Hamadoni District were damaged by flooding last year.    

“A total damage caused by the disasters to the Tajik border troops amounted to more than 5 million Somonis,” noted the Tajik border service chief, “In 2006, with support of international donors we plan to build new frontier posts and blockings.” 

“Despite certain problems, our border troops are protecting the border properly,” Zuhurov said.