GRADUAL PROGRESS, BUT VISIBLE PROBLEMS AT TWO TAJIK-AFGHAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001945 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR PINR TI AF SUBJECT: GRADUAL PROGRESS, BUT VISIBLE PROBLEMS AT TWO TAJIK-AFGHAN BORDER POSTS DUSHANBE 00001945 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: An October 18 visit to two border posts revealed extremely basic living conditions and a slow but solid start to U.S.-funded reconstruction efforts. Soldiers at Bakhorat and Bog outposts on the border with Afghanistan face winter with limited electricity and supplies, and almost no recreational options for off-duty hours. Soviet-era land mines still pose a problem along the border. Skirmishes with traffickers continue, but border guards have only limited equipment to detect and detain individuals. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Living conditions at Bog exceed those at Bakhorat, 20 kilometers to the west. The dormitory at Bakhorat for enlisted soldiers, for example, consisted of approximately 30 beds, with pillows and blankets which appeared to exceed the ages of the soldiers. The dormitory did not have any windows; when asked if the soldiers got cold at night, the base commander replied "not yet." The group shower was currently under construction and inoperable. When asked where the soldiers bathe, the commander replied: "We find places; sometimes in the river." Bakhorat had a small volleyball court available for recreational use, but no visible electronic equipment. By contrast, Bog had a functioning television. ¶3. (SBU) International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) -funded interior and exterior reconstruction had begun at both bases. The soldiers' barracks now feature plywood ceilings, fiberboard wall coverings, and wooden flooring. Bakhorat had an older but operable power generator; Bakhorat was also temporarily housing a new generator, which was being used to supply power to surrounding border posts. The Bakhorat base commander stated the base currently received approximately four hours of electricity each day, but little to none is expected in the winter. The situation in Bog appeared better, where they were planning to install heat/air conditioning units and a mini Hydro-Electric Station (HES). INL-funded solar batteries also supply power for communications equipment. ¶4. (SBU) Several active land mines still punctuate the Tajik-Afghan border, most remnants of the Soviet-Afghan war, laid by the Soviet army to prevent border incursions from the Afghan mujahideen. The Bakhorat base commander stated the immediate perimeter that surrounds the base had been cleared of land mines and that the nearest mine field was four kilometers away. The road leading to Bog had several warning signs posted of mines in the immediate vicinity. ¶5. (SBU) Security: Sporadic firefights have taken place between Tajik border patrols and Afghans attempting to illegally cross the border. Authorities claim eleven Afghans have died thus far in 2006. Some Tajik border guards have taken casualties while on patrol, but none have been fatally wounded. EmbOffs observed small Tajik foot patrols during the one-hour drive from Bakhorat to Bog; some soldiers maintain stationary positions on mountain cliffs that overlook the border area, while others comprise mobile foot teams that patrol the river on foot between border posts. Additionally, Bakhorat and Bog each had a single watchtower, manned by a single soldier. While these soldiers were armed, they had no night-vision goggles to detect or interdict nocturnal crossings. The soldiers standing post during our visit appeared more interested in observing EMBOFFS than the Pyanj river that divides Tajikistan from Afghanistan. Bog and Bakhorat currently do have radio communications, which will be strengthened after the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) and INL installs the Harris communications network by summer 2007. ¶6. (SBU) The Bakhorat base commander requested three items. 1) Their refrigerator had stopped working, and he requested a new one since they currently lack an operable place to store meat or bread. 2) 15 new wooden poles, to hang electric cables around the perimeter of the base. 3) A new transformer to better generate electricity for the base. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Things remain bleak along the border. Export and Border Security (EXBS) provided over 5,000 uniforms, boots and related clothing to the Tajik Border Guards in September 2006. Rumor has it that the majority of these supplies are currently sitting in Dushanbe warehouses, rather than at the border posts where they are most needed. INL will begin providing an additional 10,000 winter uniforms the week of October 30. The distribution of these important items will be a DUSHANBE 00001945 002.2 OF 002 key issue for Embassy follow-up, particularly as winter approaches. END COMMENT. JACOBSON