DUSHANBE, November 13, 2012, Asia-Plus — The OSCE Office in Tajikistan completed on November 9, in Dushanbe its first joint patrol medical course for Afghan border police and Tajik border troops as part of a project to enhance the capacities of both structures to detect and prevent illegal cross-border movement, press reels issued by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan said.
During the two-week course, ten Afghan officers and twelve Tajik border troops learned about handling casualties, traumas, and gunshot wounds in the field during border patrol missions. The course helped students improve their theoretical knowledge and further develop their basic first aid and medical skills through practical field exercises.
During the graduation ceremony, Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, said: “This course has improved, strengthened and expanded the professional skills required for effective border patrolling in difficult field conditions, thereby strengthening the overall capacities of the border services of both countries.”
General Abdulhaliq Cheerah, Defence Attaché of the Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan, said: “The Afghan side strongly supports the OSCE efforts to improve professional capabilities of the Afghan border police, and is ready to continue the valuable co-operation with our Tajik partners to ensure better border security and management.” The graduation ceremony was also attended by senior officials from Tajikistan’s border troops.
The course is part of the OSCE Patrol Programming and Leadership Project under which Tajik and Afghan border services personnel has been trained since April 2012. The OSCE Office will continue to run similar training courses for officers from both countries in 2013.
