TAJIK RESPONSE TO AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE REQUESTS

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000824 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PBTS SMIG ETRD EAGR EAID ECON TI SUBJECT: TAJIK RESPONSE TO AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE REQUESTS REF: STATE 31102 ¶1. (SBU) Tajikistan responded to our reftel request for assistance in Afghanistan by diplomatic note on June 11. Tajikistan replied to our request that they extend operations of the Nizhny Pyanj bridge to 24 hours a day saying that an agreement is currently pending with the Afghan side to increase the hours of operations at the Nizhny Pyanj bridge by four hours, to 6 a.m.-7 p.m. In response to our request to provide agricultural and water experts to advise and mentor Afghan officials, the government of Tajikistan stated its readiness "to offer consultative assistance to local and national authorities of Afghanistan." It also noted that Tajikistan was ready to coordinate with the Afghan government and the UN to provide specialists in water resources, hydro-technical facilities, soil assessment, irrigation, and wells. The Tajiks added that they are ready to pursue higher educational exchanges between Tajik and Afghan agricultural institutions and universities. ¶2. (SBU) In response to the request for the Government of Tajikistan to facilitate joint training with Afghan border guards, the Government of Tajikistan maintained its readiness to organize training for Afghan border guards, but stated that it would do so only "if financial support of these activities is provided." (Note: INL persuaded the GOTI to invite ten Afghan border officers to a week-long course in the Khorog Training Center in mid-July. The very slowly issued request just arrived in the Afghan Ministry of Internal Affairs. End note.) Reftel request had also urged the government to support continued and increased contributions to OSCE border training initiatives, including the provision of customs experts as trainers for an Afghan National Customs Academy and funding for border security infrastructure. The government offered no direct response to this part of the request. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The government's response was heartening in some respects. Its willingness to provide agricultural support is a positive development. But as the reply on border guard training made clear, the Tajiks will seek funding for any contribution they make to efforts in Afghanistan, and are very reluctant to engage with Afghan security forces. Despite two years of promises that they would do so, they have still not begun joint training of border forces. End comment. ¶4. (U) Post has scanned the Tajik diplomatic note and emailed it to SCA/CEN. JACOBSON