Flashpoint #2

Afghanistan border problems

· The Tajikistan border is very loosely patrolled, making it very easy to infiltrate

· The border between Afghanistan. and taj. is 870 miles long, and the guards are “poorly trained, undereducated and easily corruptible”

· There is extreme amounts of violence at the borders of afghanistan because of the large drug trade.

· 2 shootouts took place in June between border guards and traffickers

· It is estimated that tens of thousands of pounds of heroin goes through Afghanistan each year which originates in afghanistan and goes north, first traveling thru Tajikistan

· Afghans have been known to snipe unsuspecting people from across the border

· The border situation has brought international attention with countries like U.S. Russia going to afghan capitol to discuss border security

· US withdrawl of troops is bringing worry to people because violence in the north is on the rise

· Moscow had troops in Afghanistan, but withdrew in 2005 when asked, they might return soon

· “Tajikistan and also Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, all the republics on the northern border with Afghanistan, are facing serious threats to their security,”

This is related to our recent studies in IR because it discusses alliances, and the effects of dominance. Afghanistan's allies such as Russia and the US have taken note that the country is growing rapidly more unsafe, and want to protect it. They have sent their own troops to protect the borders, knowing very well that the troops that have been deployed by Afghanistan are undertrained, and unsuitable for the job. The topic of dominance can also be related because the major world powers that are allied with Afghanistan are making suggestions to fortify, and further secure the borders. They are also willing to deploy troops in order to make the border safer for the guards and civilians alike.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/asia/10tajik.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=drugtrafficking