Afghanistan To Create Anti-Insurgency Force

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From 'Khaleej Times' (UAE): A special force is to be formed to boost security in areas of Afghanistan hit by a Taliban-led insurgency, the country's interior minister said Saturday. The paramilitary-style force, which will be funded by the US government, will operate under the command of the interior ministry, the department responsible for the country's police force, Mohammad Hanif Atmar told reporters. "Considering the special situation in the country we've decided to... create public protection forces with a special security mission within the interior ministry frame," Atmar said.

Their tasks will include protecting communities, schools, other government installations and highways that are threatened by an ongoing Taliban-led insurgency, the minister added. He said the first units will be drawn from Afghan youths chosen by community leaders and placed into provinces where the Taliban is most active. He refused to give further details, such as numbers, saying this would depend on the need in each region.

Most of the violence is focused in the southern and eastern parts of the country, along the border with Pakistan. "The US military (in Afghanistan) is strongly supportive (of) this initiative," Atmar said. The new units would "help police to provide the necessary security in areas so police can implement the rule of law," he added. "This force will not be a militia force," Atmar said, addressing concerns the new force will degenerate into a militia similar to those that fought the bloody civil war that wracked the country in the 1990s. Once created, "these forces will be official security forces of the government of Afghanistan," the minister said.