VZCZCXRO5475
RR RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0886/01 2051001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241001Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0568
INFO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1211
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0190
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0126
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0105
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0065
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000886 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR EAID MASS ECPS TI
SUBJECT: JOINT ODC/EXBS END-USE MONITORING TRIP REPORT 
 
DUSHANBE 00000886  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. Summary: Monitoring results of U.S. funded communications 
equipment in Tajikistan are positive.  The equipment is being 
used along the porous Tajik-Afghan border as intended and is 
being maintained to the highest degree of serviceability.  Some 
issues were identified, but could be easily overcome with a 
visit by a Technical Survey team.  The proper use and 
maintenance of this equipment indicates that U.S. counter 
narcotics and security funding in Tajikistan is not taken for 
granted. 
 
 
 
¶2. Background:  U.S. government funding through U.S. Army 
Central Command, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, 
and the Export and Border Security (EXBS) office provided $8.1M 
in radios and radio support equipment from 2007 to 2009 to the 
Tajik Border Guards (BG), Drug Control Agency (DCA), and Customs 
Service (CS).  This funding purchased Harris High-Frequency 
radios, Motorola Hand-Held Ultra-High Frequency radios, spare 
parts, chargers, and solar power equipment.  From June 10-19, 
the Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), ODC Counter 
Narcotics Program Manager, the EXBS Advisor, and EXBS Program 
Management Assistant visited Border Guard and Customs Service 
locations along the Tajik-Afghan border in the Gorno-Badakshan 
Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) to monitor the use, operation, and 
condition of the equipment and to inform future equipping 
decisions. 
 
 
 
¶3.  Otryads are regional BG headquarters roughly equivalent to a 
US Battalion Headquarters.  Zastavas are the equivalent of 
border outposts where a squad to platoon size element serve. 
The Harris radios provide long-distance, rough terrain 
communication capability between Otryads and Zastavas.  The 
Motorola radios are used for short-distance, line-of-sight 
communication between Zastavas and patrols or stationary guard 
towers/observation points. Each Otryad is responsible for a 40 
to 100 kilometer sector in which the Zastavas are located.  From 
the Zastava, BG Junior Officers, Warrant Officers, and 
Conscripts execute the day-to-day function of securing the 
border through random patrols, stationary guard towers, 
observation and reporting. 
 
 
 
¶4. Observations: Overall, the radios and radio support equipment 
are in excellent condition and are being employed as intended. 
The Harris AN/PRC 150 High-Frequency radio serves as the 
communication backbone along the Tajik-Afghan border for 
Tajikistan's BG.  The radio, in various amplified 
configurations, is the primary communication platform between 
the Otryad and its Zastavas as well as the Otryad back to BG 
headquarters in Dushanbe.  Each Otryad and Zastava maintains a 
communication room with the AN/PRC 150 and supporting solar 
power equipment - batteries, switchboard, and 
charger/conditioner. 
 
 
 
¶5. The Motorola radios were observed in use by foot patrols 
while traveling through the Khatlon region to GBAO but there is 
limited use of the radios in GBAO.  The newer Motorola 340 
radios, which this report discusses, had been delivered to the 
Otryads in GBAO but not yet fielded to the Zastavas.  An older 
model Motorola 140 radio, donated in 2003 by the EXBS office, 
was observed in most Zastavas but in very limited quantities due 
to age. A BG Communications Training Team, led by the BG 
Director of Communications, Colonel Soleh Shekhov, was scheduled 
to conduct training and field the newer Motorola radios at the 
end of June and early July. 
 
 
 
¶6. The Border Guard has established a solid maintenance, 
support, and training plan for the radios much to the surprise 
of ODC and EXBS representatives.  Each Otryad's Communication 
Director demonstrated good technical knowledge of the systems, 
had established an operator training program, and knew who to 
contact at the next higher level if a system failed.  The 
deliberate approach to fielding, supporting, and training 
emanates from the BG Directorate of Communication in Dushanbe. 
The Director, Colonel Shekhov, is known throughout the region 
and has emphasized care and proper use of the communication 
 
DUSHANBE 00000886  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
systems. 
 
 
 
¶7. Issues: The power source is inadequate. Border Guard 
representatives stated that some locations did not receive 
enough sunlight during the winter and spring months to 
adequately charge radio batteries. During times of limited 
power, communication is passed via runner between Zastavas. 
However, ODC and EXBS representatives observed that U.S. 
provided solar power equipment is being used to power TVs, 
satellite systems, and teapots.  Post recommends a more detailed 
analysis of whether the Border Guard is prioritizing available 
electricity sources before deciding how to address this issue. 
 
 
 
¶8. Solar power switchboard and conditioners are not working. 
 
Four solar power conditioners and switchboards were damaged. 
The reason given to ODC and EXBS representatives was that the 
fluctuating current burned the system out too easily. Border 
Guard representatives have hard-wired the batteries to the power 
source and bypassed the switchboard and conditioners to fix the 
problem. Post again recommends a more detailed analysis to 
determine the reason for conditioners and switchboards 
malfunctioning.  This analysis should be conducted by a 
two-three man technical team visit with the background and 
expertise in the installed radios and radio support equipment. 
 
 
 
¶9. Considerations for Future Equipping:  The following is a 
proposed list of equipment for future purchase consideration 
based on Border Guard feedback and U.S. observations during the 
visits. This equipment will be considered in Post's 
determination of FY 2010 Counter Narcotics funding priorities. 
 
 
 
¶A.  Radio repair parts.  The original purchase package included 
only a basic spare parts package.  These repair parts would 
augment that package and include additional rechargeable 
batteries, radio faceplates, and hand mikes.  Technical 
replacement parts, the internal circuit boards, are more 
complicated and best replaced through Harris or Motorola 
representatives in-country.  A more complete package of needs 
could be developed based on feedback from the two-three man 
technical team visit recommended in paragraph 3.B.(2) above. 
 
 
 
¶B.  Field Phones.  Wire field phones, such as the old U.S. TA 
312, will benefit Zastavas that support stationary observation 
points.  They do not require batteries or electricity to 
operate. 
 
 
 
¶C.  Motion Sensors.  Electronic motion sensors could be employed 
along the border to detect movement, particularly at night. 
However, the power source challenge would have to be overcome. 
 
 
 
¶D.  Optics.  A simple package of optics would greatly enhance 
security along the border.  Binoculars are almost non-existent 
and the ones on hand are mostly fogged out because of age.  A 
standard Otryad package could include 3 spotting scopes (for 
observation posts) and 20 binoculars distributed evenly across 
the Zastavas.  Thermal imagery is not recommended because of the 
additional monitoring requirements, potential for proliferation 
across the Afghan border, and need for a power source. 
 
 
 
¶E. Cold Weather Clothing.  A basic cold-weather clothing package 
would enhance the Border Guard's ability to patrol during 
periods of extreme cold weather.  Package would include gloves, 
boots, Gore-Tex coats, and moisture wicking undergarments. 
 
 
 
10: Conclusion: Overall, Tajik Border Guards and Customs 
 
DUSHANBE 00000886  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
officials praised the Harris and Motorola radios provided in the 
past.  The equipment has enhanced their operational capabilities 
along the border by linking elements and headquarters regardless 
of weather conditions and poor infrastructure.  Most 
significantly, Border Guard Officers and conscripts are caring 
for and maintaining the radios.  This indicates that U.S. funds 
are not being wasted with respect to developing Tajikistan's 
communication architecture to limit narcotics trafficking along 
the Tajik-Afghan border.   However, a technical team should be 
deployed within the next six months to further analyze the 
issues discussed in this report.  This would identify any 
technical gaps in the current architecture and ensure that the 
right purchase decisions are made in the future.  Additionally, 
the Tajik Border Guard should be asked to provide detailed 
reports that link narcotic seizures to this supporting 
communication architecture to better demonstrate results to 
dollars spent. 
JACOBSON