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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001233 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  7/3/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN:  JAPAN READY TO PROVIDE MORE BORDER ASSISTANCE 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Thomas Armbruster, DCM, State, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (c) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C)  The Japanese Ambassador to Tajikistan Hiroshi Takahashi 
said the Japanese government intends to provide increased 
technical assistance to Tajik border guards and rebuild another 
road in the south of the country from Dusti to Kurgan-Tyube.  In 
a meeting with Chargi d'Affaires and Post's Senior Law 
Enforcement Advisor June 30, the Japanese Ambassador sought U.S. 
advice on where their assistance would be most needed and he 
shared intelligence and security information.  Ambassador 
Takahashi pointedly noted increased Russian anxiety over Japan's 
role in Central Asia.  Takahashi said that the Russians were 
increasingly wary of Japanese assistance because the Russians 
are not interested in a sustainable and successful Tajik border 
force.  The Russians want to be able to say that the Tajiks are 
worse off after Russian troops withdrew and depend on the 
Russians to manage their border. 
 
JAPANESE ASSISTANCE 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  The Japanese government has already committed to 
repairing the road linking the U.S.-constructed bridge at 
Nizhniy Pyanj to Dusti, a town en route to Dushanbe from the 
bridge site.  The Japanese are currently seeking bidders for the 
project and expect the road will be completed in one to two 
years.  In addition, they are looking into rebuilding the road 
from Dusti to Kurgan-Tyube also on the road between Dushanbe and 
the bridge.  The road from Kurgan-Tyube to Dushanbe is presently 
in suitable shape and does not need repair.  Once completed, 
these two sections will smoothly link Dushanbe to the bridge and 
from there on to Kabul making traffic and trade easier and 
faster. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Ambassador Takahashi revealed the Tajik government has 
already approached him requesting assistance for border guards 
and outposts.  Some of the equipment the Tajiks requested 
include extremely sophisticated air technology such as 
surveillance balloons.  The Japanese are considering providing 
the Tajik border guards with electronic sensors on its southern 
border with Afghanistan, mobile watchtowers and radar equipment. 
 They have already committed to providing ten bulldozers and 
excavators to the Shurobad outpost.  The remote outpost has been 
isolated since flooding destroyed roads leading to the border 
station.  Bulldozers and excavators will help cut roads and 
clear rockslides and snow in the wintertime, allowing supplies 
to reach the post. 
 
¶4.  (C)  The Japanese understand the fuel expense needed to 
operate the posts and CdA and SLEA suggested supplying border 
posts with alternative energy supplies such as micro-hydropower 
stations, which would generate electricity for the posts 
throughout the year from the Nizhniy-Pyanj River.  Solar panels 
are a good option to provide not only electricity, but also heat 
and hot water to zastavas that only have about 2 hours of 
electricity in the summer and where 90% of them do not have any 
electricity in the winter. 
 
¶5.  (C)  Takahashi indicated Japan may provide assistance to an 
Asian Development Bank-funded customs clearance project.  Their 
assistance would help set up more posts and speed communication 
between customs posts to quickly clear inspected cargo. 
 
 
SECURITY CONCERNS 
 
¶6.  (C)  The Japanese Ambassador was also interested in learning 
more about China's role in Tajikistan.  General Zuhurov will 
return from meetings in Beijing July 1 and Takahashi's sources 
say the Chinese are training Tajik military personnel.  China is 
quickly and quietly increasing its infrastructure investment in 
Tajikistan while providing modest military assistance. 
 
 
DUSHANBE 00001233  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (C)  According to Takahashi, 2000 extremists may be coming 
from Pakistan to Tajikistan and up through to Osh, Kyrgyzstan 
via the western China route and entering the country through 
Tajikistan's eastern border at Murgab.  The eastern border 
traditionally has been less guarded due to its extreme terrain. 
 
¶8.  (C)  Takahashi did not view the IMU to be a threat to 
Tajikistan because he believes they have factionalized and are 
not operating as a cohesive group.  Although agreeing that 
Uzbekistan has an interest in destabilizing Tajikistan, he 
believes that internal forces within the government and within 
the country are responsible for instability and has heard rumors 
that the Ferghana Valley is a hotbed of fermenting violence, 
which could explode sometime this summer. 
 
¶9.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  Post is pleased Japan is taking a larger 
role in border assistance and cooperation.  Japan is a strong 
ally that understands U.S. policy in the region.  Japan is a 
welcome and important new partner and they may help convince 
Russia that counternarcotics cooperation is truly an 
international effort in everyone's interest.  Ambassador 
Takahashi and CdA agreed to continue regular meetings and share 
information.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND