Border Troops of the State Security Service (Uzbekistan)
The Frontier Service, officially called the Committee for State Border Protection of the National Security Service (Uzbek: Milliy xavfsizlik xizmatining Davlat chegaralarini qo'riqlash qo'mitasi) and commonly referred to as the National Border Guard,[1] is a department of the military and National Security Service[2] of Uzbekistan responsible for border security, part of the Security Service since 2005.[3]
Structure
Navy
A small riverine naval force is operated by the Frontier Service on the Amu Darya river, with two Gurza-class gunboats in service as well as other small craft.[4]
Civil Guard
In early 2021, the government ordered the creation of civilian border guard detachments to assist the border troops. It recruits citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 who live in village near the national border, and can work on a voluntary basis. The detachments aide in border surveillance and conducts night patrols.[5]
Operation
Border clashes
It has had many disagreements with the Frontier Forces of Kyrgyzstan since 2011.[6]
Covid-19
The Border Troops helped respond to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan. It received personal protective equipment by the EU-funded BOMCA Programme, which included 15 000 facemasks.[7]