Difficulties of Working with the Afghan Police

There are difficulties in working with the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Many are illiterate and corrupt.  Some are untrained and ill-equipped.  Very few meet the standards of a western-style police force.  Yet our troops are expected to train them, patrol with them, and get them to do their job.  A difficult task at best.  The link below takes you to a new report that shows just how frustrating this job can be.  See "The Afghan Diaries: How to Get the Police to Respond", Time.com, January 13, 2011.

Netherlands to Provide 545 Personnel for Afghan Police Training Mission

The Netherlands will provide a contingent of 545 personnel for an Afghan National Police (ANP) training mission.  Read more in "Netherlands agrees Afghanistan training mission", Google Hosted News, January 7, 2011.

Security Contractors Cite Corrupt Afghan Police as Constant Problem

Security contractors working in Afghanistan are concerned about the corruption of the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Read more in "Security contractor: Afghan police running amok", MSNBC World Blog, December 15, 2010.

Provincial Response Company (PRC) of Uruzagan Province Now Fully Trained

The Provincial Response Company (PRC) of Uruzagan Province has now been fully trained by Australian Special Forces.  Read more in "Afghan National Police reach milestone with SOTG", Australian Defence Department, December 29, 2010.

Militias in Afghanistan - Part of the Problem and Part of the Solution

Militias are a mixed blessing in Afghanistan.  On one hand they can provide the security that the central Afghan government fails to provide due to its cronyism, corruption, and inept security forces.  On the other hand the militias diminish the authority of the Afghan security forces.  Read a news article that provides a sense of this dilemma in "Militia ties undercut security steps in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, December 28, 2010.

DynCorp Wins Contract Training Afghan National Police (ANP) - Despite an Unsuccessful Past in Afghanistan

DynCorp, a large contracting firm providing police and military contractors and instructors worldwide, has again won a lucrative contract training the Afghan National Police (ANP).  The ANP is a corrupt and untrained force and DynCorp is partially responsible for its failure. Yet DynCorp seems to have won the contract.  Is this just another case of the lowest bidder winning out?  Hmmmmmmm.  Read the rest of the article in "Mercs Win Billion Dollar Afghan Cop Deal. Again.", Wired.com Danger Room, December 21, 2010.

Kandahar ANP Officer Course Graduates First Students

An Afghan National Police (ANP) training center has opened in Kandahar, Afghanistan and it has graduated its first class of police officer candidates.  The new training center is for police cadets from the south of Afghanistan.  The officer school is designed for locally recruited trainees who will be stationed near their homes.  Read more in "NATO General Visits Kandahar's first ANP Officer Candidate Class", NTM-A, December 19, 2010.

Police Mentoring Teams in Afghanistan Understaffed

Police Mentoring Teams (PMT) in Afghanistan are understaffed.  The military leadership in Afghanistan had requested 143 additional teams to be in place by October 2010.  The teams are 15-20 men each and mentor Afghan National Police units.  The United States had 279 teams working with the Afghan police.  Read more on this topic in "NATO revises goal for police mentoring teams", Stars and Stripes, November 19, 2010.

Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLTs) in Afghanistan

The Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLTs) that are currently working with the Afghan National Police are seeing their goals scaled back.  This is due to the lack of additional teams to work with the Afghan National Police (ANP).  There was a request for 143 additional POMLTs from the NATO countries but it appears they will not be forthcoming.  The teams are 15-20 men in strength and are comprised of military and civilian members with law enforcement experience.  The POMLT members live and work with the Afghan police in the field.  Read more in "NATO revises goal for police mentoring teams", Stars and Stripes, November 19, 2010.

The deployment of the POMLT teams are usually for six-months; although U.S. teams will spend one year in country.  Countries participating in the POMLT training initiative include the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  (see POMLT Fact Sheet June 2010 ISAF).

Canada Looks to Train Afghan Police in Southern Afghanistan

The head of the Canadian forces serving in Afghanistan recently stated that his troops are trying to train and expand the effectiveness of Afghan National Police (ANP) units - rather than try to field Afghan Local Police (ALP).  Read more in "Canadian general would rather boost Afghan police", CTV News, November 3, 2010.

Afghan Police take Heavy Losses

The Afghan National Police (ANP) are being pushed into the field with inadequate training and are taking heavy losses.  This is being reported in a recent news article.  Read about it in "100 policemen a month die in Afghanistan", The Telegraph, September 26, 2010.