Czech soldiers take part in border operations

Czech soldiers serving as part of a provincial reconstruction team in the Afghan province of Badakhshan have taken part in operations aimed at strengthening cooperation between international ISAF forces and the Afghan army. The operations took place towards the end of August and focused on reinforcing safety in areas along the border with Pakistan, the defence ministry said on Friday. Control of areas and routes on the border are key to stability in the province as certain routes are used by insurgents and drug smugglers to illegally cross.