Tajikistan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Border Guard Forces troops and Virginia National Guard Soldiers trained together with a focus on responding rapidly to terrorist threats on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.
The training, part of the U.S. National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, occurred in January 2026 at Fort Pickett, Va. The training also highlighted Tajikistan interagency cooperation to unify the efforts of interior ministry troops and border guards against a terrorism threat that crosses borders and endangers the entire region.
Excellence in counterterrorism and border security is a fundamental requirement for Tajikistan’s Armed Forces and security organs. The nation’s location near the crossroads of Asia and Europe, and its long border with Afghanistan, place it on the front lines in battles against international organized crime and terrorism.
To succeed in these interrelated fights, Tajikistan military and security forces lean on an array of international and regional relationships. The Tajikistan Armed Forces-Virginia National Guard partnership stands out as a key relationship for both sides, with more than 200 military-to-military engagements since it began in 2003.
This mutually beneficial exchange of expertise has helped “counter terrorism, deter violent extremism, expand emergency response capabilities, develop professionalism among leaders and staffs and promote shared values in national sovereignty and security,” Virginia National Guard Public Affairs noted.
In the latest engagement in this partnership, several Virginia National Guard Airmen traveled to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in February 2026 for combat training that focused on battlefield trauma management and medical evacuation planning.
Source: Virginia National Guard