Afghan National Police

The Afghan National Police is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It is under the responsibility of Afghanistan's Ministry of the Interior.

The paramilitary police force is under development and being trained by the United States military police and an EU-led mission.

The current Afghan National Police force include more than 70,000 members. [US Department of Defense, News Transcript (18 October 2007), [http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4065 GEN. CONE: "To date, more than 70,000 policemen are serving the citizens of Afghanistan" ] ]

Facilities

* Kabul Police Academy - established by the German police mission
* Central Training Facility in Kabul led by US training
* 7 Regional Training Centers - training from US forces

Rank

Senior Officers
* Regional Commander North
* Regional Commander South
* Regional Commander East
* Regional Commander West
* Colonel
* Major General
* Major
* Lieutenant
* Police Chief
* Captain

Equipment

The ANP has over 9000 vehicles, most of which are four-wheel drive Ford Rangers. There are also Toyotas and SORV pickup trucks from Thailand. Older vehicles, like the UAZ-469 all-terrain vehicle, were obtained from the Soviet Union.

*Weapons
**Glock pistols flagicon|Austria
**AK-47 assault rifles flagicon|Soviet Union
**AMD 65 assault rifles flagicon|Hungary
**Rocket-propelled grenade systems

Uniforms and body armor are supplied by the United States, some donated from US police forces.

Corruption within the ANP

Widespread corruption in all levels of the ANP has long been a major problem for the combating of the Taliban insurgency. Taliban fighters of both high and low rank have been able to quickly buy their release from police custody with bribes ranging from $100-$10,000. [Newsweek: [http://www.newsweek.com/id/107576 Afghan Prison Blues] Feb 11, 2008 Issue] Drug use, defections to the Taliban and sexual harassment of female officers is also widespread within the ANP. [cite news |first=Per Anders |last=Johansen |authorlink= |coauthors=Tor Arne Andreassen |title= Police face huge training challenges in Afghanistan |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2681857.ece |work= |publisher=Aftenposten |date=29 September 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-30 ]

ee also

*Afghanistan Police Program

References

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/60086.htm Afghanistan National Security Forces]