DUSHANBE, April 6, Asia-Plus — The United States does not intend to reduce assistance to Tajik border troops, US Ambassador to Tajikistan Tracey Ann Jacobson remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 5.
Asked to comment on reports about the possible reduction in assistance to Tajikistan in strengthening of its border protection potential, Jacobson, “It is not true that the United States will not cooperate with Tajik border troops any longer; on contrary, we hope that this assistance will be increased.”
The ambassador assessed cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan in the strengthening of its border as good. “If you travel to the Tajik-Afghan border, you will see that we work, build frontier posts, provide equipment to them, conduct training and work on enhancement of infrastructure,” she said.
US Ambassador noted that besides border guards, the United States cooperates with seven other power-wielding structures of Tajikistan to improve the situation on the border with Afghanistan and fight crime in the region.
MS. Jacobson added that besides the US Government, the European Union Border Management (BOMCA) and Drug Action (CADAP) Programs for Central Asia are being implemented in Tajikistan through UNDP, providing assistance in enhancing borer security and fostering a development-oriented drug control strategy in the region.
