DUSHANBE, July 30, 2010, Asia-Plus – On Wednesday July 28, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Ken Gross, Major General Sherali Mirzo, Chief of Tajikistan”s Border Guard Forces, Colonel Alamkhon Rahmatov, Commander of the Shuroobod Detachment, and Lt. Col. Fathiddin Mirov, Director of the Border Guard Construction Department, traveled to southern Tajikistan to dedicate the opening of the reconstructed border post facility at Khirmanjo, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
This international cooperative project will help the Tajik border guards interdict the flow of illegal narcotics and enhance the overall security of Tajikistan”s border with Afghanistan.
The U.S. Embassy”s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) spent more than $600,000 for the renovation, which was carried out by Tajikistan”s BSK-Asia Construction Company. The renovation, a priority project requested by the Tajik border guards, includes infrastructure upgrades, furniture, equipment, and a new well for clean, fresh water. The Border Guards and the representatives of the village have agreed to a water sharing arrangement. This is the first border outpost in Tajikistan to use solar panels for hot water and for back-up lighting.
INL also is planning the rehabilitation of other border posts in Tajikistan. The Asian Development Bank and INL started the construction of the Kulma facility on the border with China and the Kizil-Art facility in Gorno Badakhshan on the border with Kyrgyzstan. INL is completing the reconstruction project of the Border Guard Academy building in Dushanbe.
The U.S. Embassy has cooperated with Tajikistan law enforcement structures since 1992 and implemented assistance projects totaling more than $28 million to provide border security, support to the rule of law, and combating drug trafficking. In 2008-2009, INL financed the renovation of the Sari Ghor border post and the reconstruction of Shogun border post along the Tajik-Afghan border. In 2006 INL supported the reconstruction of border posts in Bogh and Bakhorak. In addition to INL”s border security projects, the U.S. Embassy opened the $37 million Nizhny Panj Bridge in 2007 and has provided other assistance totaling over $6.5 million to upgrade border facilities.
The U.S. Government will continue to support the Tajik Border Guards and their important work as the first line of defense against drug trafficking, crime, and terrorism.
