U.S. Covert War in Tajikistan: U.S. Special Forces, Freedom House, GKNB and Drug Trafficking

http://www.blacklistednews.com/U.S._Covert_War_in_Tajikistan%3A_U.S._Special_Forces%2C_Freedom_House%2C_GKNB_and_Drug_Trafficking/26993/0/0/0/Y/M.html


June 29, 2013
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Source: Atlantic

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The number of civilians killed is smaller than initial reports suggested, and one unusual thing about this uprising is that instead of presenting themselves as victims, the people of Khorog crow about their victory over the government. Asked how many people in town were killed, nearly everyone cites the figure of about 25. But asked about government casualties, residents often cite figures of 200 or 300 soldiers killed. (The real figure has been kept quiet by the government, but is believed to be a few dozen.) I heard unverified stories of military trucks filled with bodies retreating to their base dripping with blood. Or of Tajikistan special forces troops privately admitting that the Pamiris beat them soundly.

The forces that carried out the operation had received substantial training and equipping from the U.S. American officials rarely comment on security cooperation with Tajikistan, but according to what information is available, the U.S. had budgeted $9 million for aid to Tajikistan’s various special forces units in 2012, part of a $24 million counter-narcotics aid package. One U.S. diplomatic cable from 2010 said that officers from U.S. Special Operations Command Central were planning an assessment of Tajikistan’s special forces and then would be “organizing these groups into special units” and then “sustain an increase in capabilities” via training with U.S. special forces. U.S. aid has included rifles for the GKNB.(State Committee for National Security known by its Russian initials GKNB, the successor agency to the KGB)

“What happened in Khorog is probably the tip of the iceberg as far as the GKNB’s use of violence against political opponents and apparent involvement in criminal activities,” said Susan Corke, director of Eurasia Programs at Freedom House. “The GKNB is a notoriously corrupt and repressive institution, allegedly involved in drug smuggling and openly engaged in repression of legitimate political dissent.”

It’s not clear how significant the U.S. role’s in training Tajikistan’s special forces was. There is no evidence that the U.S. supported, condoned or even was aware of the attack before it happened. But the U.S. has been put in an awkward position by the operation, and it has neither touted the operation as a success nor condemned it as an overreach. And despite laws that prohibit U.S. training of units that have committed human rights violations, the U.S. has continued its training programs with Tajikistan’s forces. “The United States regularly reviews the full range of our bilateral aid programs to Tajikistan, including our security assistance,” said Emily Horne, a State Department spokeswoman. “As with all countries, this ongoing review is part of our efforts to ensure our assistance dollars are being appropriately and effectively used. Because such reviews are ongoing, I’m not going to speculate on possible next steps.”