Afghan Local Police (ALP) to Have Key Role in Afghanistan's Future After Drawdown

ALP candidates at shura in Nawbahar
 district, Zabul province.
 (Photo: PO2C David Brandenburg)

With the anticipated draw down of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan by mid-2013 the fight will be carried on by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The two main components of the ANSF are the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). The Afghan National Police (ALP) are a key component in this fight. Currently there are about 12,000 ALP members (as of February 2012) with a growth projected to almost triple that number in the next few years. These Afghan Local Police, who are part of the Ministry of Interior, will be an important element in gaining and sustaining local support for the district, provincial, and national government. The Afghan Local Police are recruited from the local area - so there are ties to this police force at the local community level. The local community holds a shura with village elders, district officials, and the district chief of police to validate the Afghan Local Police recruits. This relationship is different than an ANA or ANP unit from a different part of the country being stationed in the local Afghan community - with the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic differences. The ALP are advised and trained by special operations teams of the Combined Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan or CJSOTF-A as a part of the Village Stability Operations (VSO) program. Learn more about the Afghan Local Police of Afghanistan.