Close location of Afghanistan, which remains the destabilizing factor for Central Asia states despite a definite success of counter-terrorist operations, also affects current political situation in the region where various terrorist organizations and extremists are trying to increase their influence, OSCE Bureau quoted Tajik Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Ramazon Rahimov as saying at the 10th Conference of the Central Asia Border Security Initiative (CABSI, 16-17 April) in Vienna.
He said Tajik Ministry of Interior is able and should provide assistance to Afghan security forces in terms of strengthening of their capacities.
“We could contribute to the formation of Afghan law enforcement structures through organization of training courses for Afghan police officers on the basis of the Tajik Interior Ministry’s Academy and Afghan dog experts on the basis of the Tajik Interior Ministry’s Cynological Center. Tajikistan already gained related experience when we, together with OSCE Bureau in Tajikistan, carried out training courses for drug control officers in 2010 and I think we can continue this practice,” Tajik Interior Minister said.
He offered to use OSCE’s experience in the formation of a High School for Border Guards in Tajikistan, which also provides trainings for border guards from Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia region. “As a result, we can set up a special training college for Afghan peacekeepers in Dushanbe. This would be a rather practical and successful step towards organization of training courses for Afghan law enforcement structures, especially in the period of growing threats which may emerge following the withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan,” Rahimov has said.
Among other initiatives Rahimov suggested to organize an intensive share of operative and other related information, carry out joint actions and special operations.
General Rahimov told once again that Tajikistan stays on the leading edge of the drug threat and plays the role of Eurasian’s shield against new threats and challenges. “That is why Tajik as well as Afghan law enforcement authorities need in specific support. Recently the Tajik Parliament ratified the MoU between OSCE and the Government of the country on police reform, which, according to the new law, will be renamed from “militsia” to “politsia”. We have almost finished the Tajik Interior Ministry Reform Strategy, developed the draft Militsia Reform Program and I think that with support of the international community we will be able to implement these reforms aimed at the establishment of a new model of Tajikistan’s police, which will ensure security and safety of personality, protection of its rights and legal interests,” Rahimov has said.
According to the report, in the course of his official visit to Vienna Ramazon Rahimov visited the OSCE Secretariat and met with the director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Adam Koberatsky, senior officials and officers of the Strategic Police Matters Unit. Tajik Interior Minister also met with his Austrian counterpart Johan Mikl-Leitner and deputy Minister of Interior of Croatia Evelyn Tonkovich.
