CSTO ready to assist in strengthening Tajik-Afghan border

The Collective Security Treaty Organization /CSTO/ is ready to help Tajikistan strengthen its southern border where the situation is difficult. "The border has to be strengthened," CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told reporters after talks with Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmon on Tuesday. "The CSTO is capable of assisting Tajik partners in strengthening the southern border of the organization." "A group of CSTO experts was on a fact-finding mission on the border; it took note of Tajik colleagues' requests for technical assistance," Bordyuzha said. He explained that the measurers were being taken in connection "with possible negative development of the situation in the Pyandzh area after the withdrawal of the NATO forces from Afghanistan scheduled for 2014." "Regrettably, the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border tends to become more complicated; the number of armed clashes and breakthroughs by gunmen from Afghanistan have increased," the CSTO secretary general said. He said he had assured the Tajik president that he would "personally examine all the proposals concerning the strengthening the border troops and their equipping and report them to the Russian president at the CSTO summit in September." Bordyuzha praised the Tajik border troops' morale and professionalism, skilled officers and the condition of border outposts. These are efficient troops, well-staffed and having good reserves," Bordyuzha stated. He noted however, that border guards needed better equipment and armaments, as some units did not have enough bullet-proof vests.