From October 5 to 13, 2023, Tashkent, Uzbekistan hosted the “Train-the-Trainer” course on addressing cross-border challenges related to the identification of suspected foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and criminals. The event was co-organized by OSCE and UNODC as part of the project “Enhancing Border Management and Security in Response to Terrorism Threats in Central Asia,” funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. The project aims to support Central Asian states in enhancing effective border security, an integral part of comprehensive national counter-terrorism strategies. Additionally, the project focuses on building the capacity of relevant national agencies to detect, prevent, and investigate the cross-border movement of terrorists.
The seven-day training course was jointly conducted by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department Border Security and Management Unit and UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch. It was attended by twenty mid-to senior-level officers from border and customs services of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who are the members of the first OSCE-led National Mobile Training Team on the identification of suspected FTFs/criminals at the borders.
Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Secretariat, stated, “This training is part of the OSCE response to the implications of Afghanistan and aimed to contribute to Uzbekistan’s efforts to address transnational cross-border challenges in the region.”
Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, expressed her belief that the seven-day "Training of Trainers" workshop will be an important contribution to further strengthening the national capacity of the border guards and customs officers. She also expressed her hope that the training will be institutionalized in the region, allowing for the sharing of knowledge, information, and skill sets among peers in different countries.
The event included contributions from experts of the OSCE-led Mobile Training Team, as well as international experts from INTERPOL, UNHCR, UNOCT, and UNODC. The participants were equipped with the skills needed to identify and prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, cross-border crimes, and victims of such crimes. They received training on identity management, crisis management, combating small arms and light weapons, and combating trafficking in human beings.
The participants praised the high quality of the event and emphasized the importance of continuing expert discussions and information sharing in this area. They particularly valued the practical exercises focused on identifying forged documents. Following the training, the participants expressed both readiness and enthusiasm to share the gained knowledge with their colleagues. This commitment is specifically directed toward fostering continuous collaboration and enhancing expertise in addressing cross-border challenges related to identifying suspected Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and criminals.
