Posted on 03/15/2010 6:23:20 PM PDT by SandRat
Police in Afghanistan received important strategic guidance Tuesday when the Minister of Interior Affairs signed into effect the Afghan National Police Strategy, specifying the objectives for continued development of the police, law enforcement activities and associated systems.
Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar signed the ANPS, the second in the series of strategic planning documents, providing “strategic guidance for the continued development and operational capability of the MoI to meet the current and future challenges of stabilization and security of Afghanistan.”
“This is a huge success. It provides clear guidance as to the way forward for the police,” said Brig. Gen. Anne Macdonald, Assistant Commanding General for Police Development. “The ANPS represents months of work by the MOI and coalition forces.”
“I have determined my priorities for the next five years. From those priorities a number of objectives will be defined,” Atmar wrote in his forward to the ANPS. “In order to achieve those objectives, deputy ministries will identify tasks and milestones that will be incorporated into subordinate operational plans.” Atmar’s seven priorities outlined in the ANPS are:
1. Gain the confidence of the public.
2. Protect the Afghan national interests.
3. Eliminate corruption.
4. Improve police capabilities including leadership, command, control and communication, training, equipment and weapons to counter the specific threats in Afghanistan.
5. Reform and grow the Afghan National Police Tashkil [manpower document] to improve quality and quantity of the service provided by the police.
6. Improve morale and quality of life for police personnel.
7. Implement intelligence-led policing.
“Minister Atmar’s number one priority is absolutely vital in counter-insurgency operations,” said Macdonald. “Police are the face of the government. The way they respond to the needs of the people they serve will define public perception.”
In addition to the MoI priorities, the ANPS also assesses the internal security threat to Afghanistan, mission and roles of the ANP, and national interests.
“We are continuing counter-insurgency operations in an Afghanistan that is still fighting for its freedom,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Ward, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Deputy Commander-Police.
Afghanistan has five major security threats: The externally supported terrorist threat and armed opposition to the government, unlawful governance and corruption, the illegal drug trade, organized crime and illegally armed groups.
According to the ANPS the ANP is “primarily responsible to maintain civil order and law enforcement.
The Police will work with the people to actively combat crime and disorder (including terrorism and illegal armed activity); prevent the cultivation, production and smuggling of narcotics; and fight corruption. The police ensure the sovereignty of the State and protect its borders.”
“Police face the greatest amount of risk and their success depends on the people,” said Macdonald.
“By signing the Afghan National Police Strategy, Minister Atmar has laid out a five-year vision to protect Afghanistan’s people and national interests,” Ward said. “This strategy will guide the Afghan police through the insurgency and beyond.”
Of national interest stated in the document is reinforcing and improving the country’s security organizations made up of five categories of police: Afghan Civilian Police, Afghan Gendarmerie, Afghan Border Police, Afghan Anti-Crime Police and Afghan Public Protection Force.
The ANPS “is key to allowing Afghanistan to succeed in securing peace and taking full control of its own future,” said Ward.
In closing the document, Atmar states his vision that “in five years, the people of Afghanistan will consider their police to be a valued institution which is honest, accountable, brave, impartial and striving to create a secure and lawful society.”
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