DUSHANBE, January 27, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tajik

Drug Control Agency (DCA) intends to merge its two liaison offices in

the Afghan provinces of Balkh and Kunduz, the DCA director Rustam

Nazarov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 26.

According to him, they have made such a decision because of the

complicated situation in Kunduz.  “The amalgamated office will be

located in Mazar-i Sharif, the capital of Balkh province through April

and in May it we will be relocated to Kunduz,” Tajik drug control

chief said, noting that six persons, including four officers and two

civilians, will work for the amalgamated office.

We will recall that DCA’s liaison offices have operated in four

Afghan provinces bordering Tajikistan – Takhar, Balkh, Kunduz and

Badakhshan – since 2005.