DUSHANBE, September 7, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Friday September 7, fifteen Afghan border police officers completed a five-week Patrol Programming and Leadership Course organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the senior officer graduates, all currently serving in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan, learned how to plan and conduct observation missions through the use of topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tactical equipment.  They further developed patrol planning and management techniques, and learned about reporting and analysis, mountaineering and field first-aid skills.

Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, congratulating the officers on completing the course, said: "The Patrol Programming and Leadership Project is a key element of the OSCE’s efforts aimed at enhancing border security between Tajikistan and Afghanistan through national capacity building."

The graduation ceremony was also attended by the commander and senior officers of the Border Troops of Tajikistan, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The course was the fourth held under the second phase of a project to enhance the capacities of Tajik and Afghan border staff in the detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements. This course was the first dedicated to the training of Afghan students since the project began in 2011.