On Wednesday January 1, 2020, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe launched a EUR 3.3 million project on the “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s Southern Border Region with Afghanistan”, funded within the framework of the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument.

According to the OSCE Programme Office, the 18-month project aims to increase the professional capability of the Tajik and Afghan Border Services in order to better tackle illicit activities in border areas.

The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoESCD) to respond to natural disasters in border regions.

Beneficiaries from CoESCD and border services will undergo practical training on operational planning and sustaining field operations.

The project will provide border services of both countries the skills needed to respond to security incidents and effectively protect the border.

Additionally, the training facilities of the Tajik Border Troops in Halqayor and Langar will be partly refurbished, and the training center of the CoESCD in Qaratogh will be extensively renovated and put into service.  The project will contribute to a more stable and secure border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.