U.S. assistance to support border security between Afghanistan and its Central Asian neighbors has focused on combating the threats of illegal trafficking and religious extremism. Yet a recent report on Tajik–Afghan border communities by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and Open Society reveals that the people living along the border are more concerned with human security challenges, including access to decent employment, quality health care, and education. State-centric, national security–based approaches to border issues fail to address these everyday concerns, and strict interdiction policies can contribute to further insecurity.
Please join the Open Society Foundations for a discussion on Tajik–Afghan border communities and recommendations for border security policy.
Speakers
- Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh is a research associate at the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
- Derek Westfall is deputy director at the Office of Central Asian Affairs, bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. State Department.
- Jeff Goldstein (moderator) is a senior policy advisor at the Open Society Foundations.
A light lunch will be served.
To attend, please RSVP to Judith Mazdra: judith.mazdra@opensocietyfoundations.org, +1-202-654-1028.