foir_3880

FOI-R--3880--SE
The Tajik political leadership may want to develop trade with Afghanistan, but at
the same time Tajikistan’s legislation reflects concerns about threats to its
national security such as terrorism, extremism and human trafficking (Kholov,
2011), all have of which links to Afghanistan. The focus here is on border
security and territorial integrity, terrorism, religious extremism, drugs trafficking
and refuges.
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND BORDER SECURITY
Territorial integrity and border security are the main objects of securitisation of
modern states. From this perspective, instability and uncertain prospects in
Afghanistan after the withdrawal of ISAF may cause border violations and
threats to the territorial integrity of Tajikistan, two major threats to national
security. There have been two fundamental changes on the Tajikistan–
Afghanistan border. First, in 2005 the Russian Border Guards handed over
responsibility for border protection to the Tajik Border Service, whose material
and human capabilities were not so good. Second, the border regime was relaxed
by the opening of new bridges, border markets and more border crossing points.
Consequently, in the border areas joint Tajik–Afghan criminal groups were
formed in addition to the existing drugs trafficking, corruption, arms smuggling,
hostage-taking and trafficking in human beings. Another threat to Tajikistan’s
national security is the growth of cross-border smuggling. Fuel and electricity
come from Tajikistan; drugs, cigarettes, cement and agricultural products come
from Afghanistan. This fuels corruption and corrodes the border services and
other law enforcement agencies.
An obvious answer to these challenges is to create viable border forces in
Tajikistan. In 2003, the Central Asian countries, the European Commission and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) agreed on setting up the
Border Management Programme In Central Asia (BOMCA), a capacity-building
programme. The programme supports training centres for border agencies, assists
in setting up border crossings and helps develop the skills of both managers and
staff through national and regional courses. Another project is TAJE24,
‘Strengthening Control along the Tajik–Afghan Border’, aimed at facilitating
closer cooperation between the border agencies of Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
On 6 June 2013 the United Kingdom granted Tajikistan 1.8 million USD to
strengthen the border with Afghanistan (Khovar News Agency, 2013).
Nevertheless, the combination of the complex topography of the border area, the
pervasive corruption and the weakness of Tajikistan’s border guards all hamper
effective protection of the border. The practically open border enables terrorists
to move freely between the countries.
Terrorism is one threat that is related to weak borders and weak territorial
integrity. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan had to handle
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