Priority 4. Enhance border security, with facilitation of bilateral dialogue between Afghan and Pakistani authorities.
The porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan provides a conduit for criminals and insurgents, while legitimate travel and trade are hindered by poor capacity at border crossing points. A better managed and more secure border holds out the prospect of increased economic opportunities for both countries along with a decline in unlawful activities. Better trained and better equipped border officials on both sides of the border are key elements.
Afghans hard at work at the Joint District
Coordination Centre in Spin Boldak.
Canadian Objective for 2011: By 2011, we expect that Afghan institutions, in cooperation with Pakistan, will exercise stronger capacity to manage the border and foster economic development in the border area.
The quarter saw modest progress toward achieving the Canadian objective for 2011. In Spin Boldak, work continued on getting the new Joint District Coordination Centre ready for preliminary operations by year’s end. In July, two Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation workshops, established pursuant to the Canada-facilitated Dubai Process, were held. These joint working groups furthered commitments, agreed to by both countries in the Dubai Process Action Plan, on managing the cross-border movement of people and on counter-narcotics operations. Finally, the Canada Border Services Agency developed customs training modules, which will be included in the curriculum of the Afghan National Customs Academy, scheduled to open in early 2010. Consultations with international partners have resulted in the establishment of a new target under this priority: by 2011, we will have trained 150 to 200 Afghan Customs officials and three to four Afghan trainers, in collaboration with other international donors.
