The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
Challenges: Tajikistan continues to face challenges to its security, stability, and ability to deliver justice to its citizens due to its long, porous border with Afghanistan; the return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF); recent ISIS inspired terrorist attacks; and its outdated criminal justice sector that still requires necessary reforms. Compounding these challenges are Tajikistan’s geographic position along a major trafficking route for opiates transiting from Afghanistan to Russia and Eastern Europe, and an economy dependent on remittances from labor migrants. In addition, an anticipated U.S. troop draw down in Afghanistan amplifies the need to bolster training and infrastructure on the Tajik-Afghan border.
Goals: INL’s primary goals are to: 1) minimize the impact of international criminal organizations on the United States by disrupting criminal organizations and violent extremists; 2) ensure peace and stability; and 3) promote just and democratic governance. INL programming supports the Government of Tajikistan’s efforts to secure its borders to combat drug trafficking, other illicit activities, and the movement of terrorists; counter trafficking in persons; and strengthen the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Accomplishments:
- INL has worked on community policing in Tajikistan since 2010, and has established 32 Community Policing Partnership Teams (CPPTs) and 49 Community Policing Centers across all four provinces of the country. The community policing program has enabled the Tajik government to more effectively implement its national police reform strategy by cooperating with local government officials and community leaders to address a range of conflict and security issues, including the root causes underpinning support for violent groups. The community policing program addresses local issues that can lead to extremism, such as crime, conflict, gender based violence, and insecurity.
- INL assisted in the establishment of the Defense Bar and the Law Reform Working Group (LRWG), which brings together parliamentarians and justice sector actors to draft laws that conform to international standards, and continues to support these two entities.
- INL programming builds the Border Guard Service’s capacity to protect Tajikistan’s borders; promotes the nation’s integrated border management strategy; increases cooperation and coordination both across borders and within the Tajik bureaucracy; and facilitates cooperation between Tajik and neighboring countries’ border security forces. Since 2005, INL has constructed or renovated 14 border posts.