Afghan Interior Ministry’s liaison officers to be based in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, October 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  — Issues related to strengthening of joint fight against drug trafficking were discussed here yesterday at a meeting of Rustam Nazarov, Director of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan with Afghan Minister of Counter Narcotics Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani and UNODC Country Office Representative for Afghanistan Jean-Luc Lemahieu, the DCA press center reports.

Tajik drug control chief reportedly informed the guests of the drug situation in Tajikistan and in the Central Asian region as well as drug control measures taken by the Tajik government.

The sides also discussed a general military and political situation as well as the drug situation in Afghanistan and carrying out of joint anti-drug events in border areas, the source noted.

We will recall that an Afghan delegation, led by General Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, Deputy Minister of Interior for Counter-Narcotics, visited Tajikistan on October 18-22.

The Afghan delegation’s visit resulted in signing of a protocol of cooperation between Tajik DCA and Afghan Interior Ministry              

The document reportedly provides for organization and carrying out of joint operations, collection and analysis of information on the drug-related crimes and training of personnel.

Besides, the Afghan Interior Ministry’s liaison officers will be based in Tajikistan.  The sides reached an arrangement on working out an appropriate agreement that is expected to be signed at the beginning of 2012.

It is to be noted the DCA’s drug liaison officers based in the Afghan provinces bordering Tajikistan are operating successfully.

The sides also agreed to hold meetings of heads of counternarcotics agencies of the two countries twice a year and meetings of heads of law enforcement authorities of Gorno Badakhshan and Khatlon with colleagues from Afghan neighboring provinces once every three months.

The sides also outlined sections of common border for carrying out active events to neutralize drug-trafficking groups.