Jalrez District Wardak Province Insider Attack Attack Update - Fatalities Identified

More details have emerged on the recent insider attack by a suspected member of the Afghan Local Police that killed two U.S. servicemen and several members of the Afghan National Security Force in Jalrez district, Wardak province, Afghanistan. The Department of Defense has released names of the two U.S. fatalities in the attack - CPT Andrew Pedersen-Keel and SSG Rex Schad. See "DoD Identifies Army Casualties", DoD News, March 13, 2013. USASOC has also released a press release on the death of CPT Pedersen-Keel - a Special Forces detachment commander. In a separate press release the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) stated that Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) dispatched elements of the 6th Special Operations Kandak (SOK) to the Jalrez district immediately after the incident to help secure the district.

Two More U.S. Soldiers Killed in Insider Attack at Special Forces Base in Jalrayz district, Wardak Province

Map showing location of Wardak

Two Soldiers were reported killed in an apparent insider attack by members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) at a Special Forces base in Jalrayz district, Wardak province, Afghanistan. ISAF has released a very short official statement on the attack. Initial reports indicate that a number of other U.S. Soldiers were wounded. There were Afghan police killed and wounded in the attack. The attack comes just a few days after President Karzai has demanded the removal of U.S. Special Forces from Wardak province because of alleged atrocities committed by the SF teams and the Afghans they work with. The allegations by Karzai are unfounded and have been refuted by ISAF based on Afghan and ISAF investigations that have turned up no evidence that the alleged actions took place. The attackers were killed by other U.S. Soldiers who responded to the attack. Very little additional details on the green-on-blue attack are known at this time.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) to Expand

The Afghan Local Police or ALP program in Afghanistan may expand in the future. The U.S. military is looking for additional funding that will extend the ALP program for an additional five years and increase the number of ALP members to 45,000. The plan, which is backed by the U.S. Special Operations Command, will cost $1.2 billion to train, arm, and equip the ALP. The ALP, based on a village defense model, comes under the control of the Ministry of Interior and is supervised by the local Afghan National Police District Chiefs of Police and Provincial Chiefs of Police. The Special Operations Joint Task Force -Afghanistan or SOJTF-A has the overall responsibility for advising, training, and mentoring the MoI and the ANP in regards to the ALP. This includes training and embedding with the ALP in conjunction with the SOJTF-A Village Stability Operations or VSO program. Learn more about the ALP expansion at the link below (LA Times, Feb 10, 2013).

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/10/world/la-fg-afghan-police-20130211

ALP "Part of the Solution; Not the Problem"

In a recent online report, Luke Coffey - a writer on defense and security matters - offers recommendations for supporting the ANSF over the next few years. He says that the U.S. should ensure the ANSF remains at a force level of 352,000 for the foreseeable future, international partners need to provide their fair share of the load (that would be money), that the ANSF remains capable in areas of importance to include C-IED and aviation, and that the Afghan Local Police continue to exist and expand. Read more in "U.S. Should Back a Robust Afghan National Security Force", Heritage Foundation, February 22, 2013.

ALP and VSO Prove Successful in Afghanistan

ALP conducting weapons training.
(Photo SSG Wright CJSOTF-A)

A commentator who has been following the progress of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and Village Stability Operations (VSO) programs in Afghanistan has provided an update. See "Report: Afghan local counterinsurgency programs prove successful", by CJ Radin of Threat Matrix Blog of The Long War Journal, April 4, 2012.

Reintegration and ALP: A Bad Combination?

Recent reports indicate that a Taliban fighter who recently passed through the Afghan government's reintegration program and subsequently was accepted into Afghan Local Police (ALP) killed nine other ALP members. The Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program or APRP tries to get Taliban fighters to quit fighting and return (or reintegrate) back to Afghan society. The APRP offers pay for the first three months and then subsequent vocational training. There are reports that some Taliban reintegrees have been assimilated into the Afghan Local Police or ALP. The ALP is associated with the Village Stability Operations program - sometimes referred to as VSO. The ALP is a part of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and is heavily supported and trained by the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan or CFSOCC-A. Read more on the reintegrated Taliban fighter and ALP member who killed his fellow policemen in "Rogue Afghan police officer: A Taliban infiltrator's road to fratricide", The Washington Post, April 1, 2012. Unfortunately, the recruiting of former Taliban into the Afghan Local Police is going to result in an increased number of insider threat incidents.

ALP Member Kills 9 Comrades from Afghan Local Police

A member of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Paktika province, Afghanistan killed nine members of his unit in their sleep. Read more in "Afghan police officer kills 9 comrades as they sleep", The Washington Post, March 30, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) an Important Part in Counterinsurgency Strategy

The Afghan Local Police or ALP are playing a quiet but huge role in the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan. The ALP is a part of the Village Stability Program or VSO that provides security, governance, and development to local communities and attempts to tie these villages to the district center throughout rural Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan Local Police key to success against Taliban", The Washington Times, March 29, 2012.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Expands in Paktika Province

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan Local Police recruits were recognized as a legitimate security force during a graduation ceremony in Yayha Khel district, March 24. The ceremony included 174 ALP graduates from western Paktika’s Zarghun Shahr and Yayha Khel districts. It was the largest ALP graduation in the area since the program started. ALP from nearby districts showed their support for their fellow Afghan National Security Forces by providing security for the event. District Sub Governor Mahmoud and District Chief of Police Naim Jahn attended the ceremony, and validated their continued support for the ALP program. Coalition special operations forces also attended the ceremony to show their commitment to Afghanistan’s security concerns at all levels. The new ALP graduates will provide increased security for Yayha Khel residents and allow the populace greater freedom of movement throughout western Paktika. “This was the largest ALP graduation since the program was started in the area,” said Lt. Col. William Linn, Special Operations Task Force-East Commander.” It was really great to see the local district governance show up and show their support for their sons, stepping up to protect their villages.”

Source of story. The text above came from "Afghan Local Police presence expands in eastern province", DVIDS, March 24, 2012. Learn more about the Afghan Local Police and read past news articles about the ALP.

Paper - Effectiveness of Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP)

The Small Wars Journal has posted a detailed paper about the Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP) programs that were initiated and are now supported by the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command - Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A). The paper explores the history and background of VSO and ALP. Read an abstract of the paper below:

This paper seeks to analyze and assess, to the extent possible, the efficacy of the Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP) missions currently being carried out by U.S. Special Operations Forces (USSOF) in Afghanistan. By examining security indicators for provinces where VSO/ALP operations are being conducted, scholarly research and assessments, and Congressional records, this paper finds that VSO/ALP is having a positive impact on security and governance at the local level in Afghanistan. In addition, this paper addresses areas of concern regarding VSO/ALP and makes some recommendations for improving the size and scope of these initiatives.

The link to the paper can be found at "The Only Game in Town: Assessing the Effectiveness of Village Stability Operations and the Afghan Local Police", by Seth A. Shreckengast, Small Wars Journal, March 27, 2012.

Recruiting Continues for Afghan Local Police (ALP) Program in Afghanistan

Members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Force - Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) and their Afghan National Army (ANA) counterparts (typically the ANA Special Forces and ANA Commandos) are continuing their efforts to expand the Afghan Local Police (ALP) program into new villages and communities. The photo seen here shows members of U.S. special operations and the 8th Commando Kandak in a village in Zabul discussing the ALP program with villagers. (Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Dillon - CJSOTF-A Media Operations Center).

United Nations General-Secretary Chief Concerned about Abuses of Afghan Local Police (ALP)

"UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Reuters) - The U.N. mission in Afghanistan should place a greater priority on protecting human rights after Afghan security forces were accused of violations, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report released on Thursday. Ahead of a U.N. Security Council vote next week to renew the mandate of the political and development mission, Ban raised concern about the Afghan Local Police, which U.S. officials believe could become more important as foreign forces withdraw."

The UN Secretary-General says the Afghan Local Police (ALP) are increasing security but also need to be under control of the Afghan government. Unfortunately, his statement is ill-informed. He has mistakenly lumped the ALP in with the group of militias that operate independent of the Afghan government. The ALP come under the control of the District Chief of Police (DCoP) and are part of the Ministry of Interior (MoI). His concerns are misplaced. Read the rest of the story in "U.N. chief concerned about Afghan rights abuse", AlertNet, March 15, 2012.

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.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Member Turns on His Own

A member of the Afghan Local Police or ALP is sought after being accused of allowing Taliban to enter a checkpoint located in Oruzgan Province and kill nine other Afghan police. Read more in "Afghan Officer Sought in Killing of 9 Colleagues", The New York Times, March 8, 2012. There are currently about 12,000 Afghan Local Police employed across Afghanistan who are under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and advised and trained by US special operations forces.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) Proving Their Worth in Northern Afghanistan

The role of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) in northern Afghanistan has evolved from an immature force to a unit of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) trusted by villages and the communities they serve.  Not only has the ALP grown in numbers but it has grown in capability.  Read more in "Across northern Afghanistan, ALP provide increased security to populace", DVIDS, March 3, 2012.

Afghan Local Police Academy Graduates in Nawa, Helmand, Afghanistan

Another Afghan Local Police (ALP) unit has graduated from it's training course - this time in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan.  The instructors were from the Marine's 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Police Advisory Team. The training course was three weeks long consisting of skills relevant to police and infantry operations to include patrolling, marksmanship, police procedures, and more.  Read more on this topic in "Afghan Local Police Academy graduates in Nawa", DVIDS, February 29, 2012.  Learn more about the Afghan Local Police here.

Village Shura in Afghanistan

Villagers and representatives from the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army Commandos, and the Afghan Local Police conduct a shura in Pul-e Khumri district, Baghlan province, Afghanistan in February 2012.  (Photo credit CJSOTF-A Media Operations Center - Spc. Robin Davis).

More Criticism of ALP

There are supporters and proponents of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) program.  Read some negative comments here. "Is U.S. Legitimizing Warlords and Criminals in Afghanistan?", AllGov, February 25, 2011.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) working with Special Forces in Khas Uruzgan District

It took time and effort to get the various tribes in the Khas Uruzgan District to work together and agree to the establishment of an element of the Afghan Local Police (ALP).  But the ALP is up and running - thanks to the continuing efforts of U.S. Army Special Forces teams operating in the area.  The ALP is an Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI) endeavor heavily supported by Special Forces that establishes local village community defense force or local police.  The program receives local support, its members are recruited from the local population and vetted by the tribal and community leaders, but it is also supported by coalition forces and the Ministry of Interior.  Read more on the establishment of the ALP in Khas Uruzgan - a district in Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan.  See "Turning the Tide", DVIDS - CJSOTFA Media Operations Center, February 19, 2011.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Baghlan Province - Special Forces Working with Locals to Establish Security

In Shahbuddin, Afghanistan (Baghlan Province) a U.S. Special Forces team is working with villagers to establish a small local fighting force that will stand up to the Taliban.  This force is called the Afghan Local Police (ALP).  The ALP is a new program approved by Karzai last summer and instituted this past fall by Special Forces as a counter to the shadow Taliban government, the lack of connectivity of rural areas to the district and provincial centers of the central government, and the absence presence and influence of Afghan security forces in these rural areas.  There are about 3,000 Afghans under arms in at least 14 sites across the country.  It is hoped that many more sites are established by spring before the fighting season begins once again. 

There are critics of the ALP program - within the U.S. military, the international community, the Afghan central government and at the provincial and district level.  Some members of the ALP are former Taliban fighters who promised to switch sides.  Some are protrayed by critics as no more than local bandits or the militias of local warlords.  One criticism is that if an ALP element is composed of members of one tribe or community then that tribe or community is strengthened and its influence grows - at the expense of other tribes or communities.

To read more about the ALP in Baghlan Province read "U.S. initiative to arm Afghan villagers carries some risks", The Washington Post, February 6, 2011.  To learn more about the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and village security efforts see Village Security and Stability in Afghanistan.