OSCE conducts patrol leadership course for Afghan border police officers

DUSHANBE, 4 September 2014 – Nineteen Afghan border police officers completed today a training course on patrolling and leadership organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. Most of the graduates ranked between warrant officer and major, and are stationed with border detachments at the Afghan-Tajik border.

The five-week course focused on planning and carrying out border surveillance missions using topographical maps, satellite images and other relevant tools. The course participants also improved their skills in reporting and analysis, border patrolling in mountainous areas, alpine skills, first aid in the field as well as patrol planning and management techniques.

"Enhancing border security on the Tajik-Afghan border through the training of border officers from both countries continues to be among the OSCE’s priority projects,” said Hans Peter Larsen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. “This training course is the fourteenth consecutive course held under the OSCE’s Office patrol programming and leadership project, and is aimed at improving the capacities of Tajik and Afghan border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements."

The Representatives of the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan and the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tajikistan attended this ceremony.