The Government of Pakistan, via the Ministry of Interior and the Frontier Constabulary, signed a memorandum of understanding with the US embassy here on Thursday worth 2.7 million dollar in security and communications equipment, as well as increased capacity for frontier post reconstruction.
The MoU, managed by the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), falls under the Letter of Agreement to bolster border security and security forces.
The MoU will promote the Government of Pakistan's own efforts to enhance Frontier Constabulary capacity by raising an additional 50 platoons to protect the 286 km frontier region border.
In a co-ordinated move to support security forces, the MoU follows commitments from the US government last fall to provide 30 million dollar in supplemental funds to fight counter narcotics and enhance border security.
More than 15 million dollar of this assistance is dedicated to delivering communications, transport and security equipment to the NWFP and Baloch Frontier Corps, which the Ministry of Interior also manages. A large portion of this equipment will be delivered to the Frontier Corps by the end of this year.
In addition to this assistance, the US Department of Justice ICITAP programme is in discussions with the Frontier Constabulary to begin improvements to its training capacity by providing updated technological and communications equipment to two training centres in Shabqadar and SWAT. ICITAP will also provide trainers to constabulary leadership to develop curriculum and assist them in training the new recruits as well as updating the capacity of existing personnel.
US ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker, Federal Minister for Interior, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Frontier Constabulary Commandant, Navid Malik Khan participated in the MoU signing ceremony. "We are pleased to be able to assist the Frontier Constabulary with its law enforcement efforts," said the ambassador Crocker. "We have a strong relationship with the Ministry of Interior and all of its other law enforcement agencies.
He said we expect to develop a close and long-term relationship with the constabulary and will continue to assist their fort and post reconstruction efforts in the frontier regions."