Extra 30,000-strong local police force nationwide

JALALABAD (PAN): In major boost to tighten nationwide security, the Ministry of Information (MoI) would deploy additional 30,000-powerful local police force, equipped with multi-million dollar worth of state-of-the-art equipment next year.

Hence, local police strength would be more than doubled from the current 12,791 by next solar year, starting March 21, and deployed in 99 districts across the country, a ministry official said on Wednesday.

Gen. Ali Shah Ahmadzai, local police chief at MoI, at a joint press conference with Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, told reporters in the eastern city of Jalalabad that local police would    be strengthened in compliance with President Hamid Karzai’s directives.

He said his visit to the province was aimed at consulting tribal elders, local security officials on creating solidarity among security forces.

Local police would be equipped with modern equipment worth $17.5 million through the US Special Forces and warned they would be barred from entering a district carrying arms that is out of their jurisdiction, he said.

Nearly, 1,450 personnel would be stationed through local councils in Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces, the general said, adding monthly salary of a recruit is 9,000 afghanis ($182.260), their group leader’s 10,500 afghanis ($212.637) and 11,500 afghanis ($232.888) for a commander.

Governor Sherzai asked the ministry to deploy local police in districts bordering Pakistan to help border police tighten security.

mm/ma/vp

Visits: 0