OSCE trains Afghan border police officers and Tajik border troops on patrolling, leadership and operational planning

DUSHANBE, 1 June 2016 – Two training courses - a four-week course organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan for 19 Afghan border police officers on patrolling and leadership, and a three-week joint operational planning course for ten Tajik border troops and ten Afghan border police officers - concluded today in Dushanbe.

The focus of the basic patrol leadership course was on planning and conducting border patrolling with the use of topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools, to develop patrol planning and management techniques. The participants improved their skills in reporting and analysis, mountaineering and in providing first aid in the field.

“Enhancing cross-border co-operation, established through the delivery of such courses, will have a positive impact on relevant responses to border challenges,” said Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Markus Mueller.

The participants of the joint operational planning course learnt about management and analysis for operational planning in action, decision-making process, preparation and implementation of operational plans and joint activity planning.    

The training courses were delivered by a Customs Adviser from the Transnational Threats Department of the OSCE Secretariat, the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project Training Officer, the representatives of the local Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, experts from Russian Border Advisory Group in Tajikistan and a local expert with an experience on operation planning.