Afghan national security council agrees to plans for setting up local defense forces

Afghan gov’t says OK to local defense forces

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s National Security Council has embraced the idea of setting up local defense forces in some parts of the nation.

President Hamid Karzai’s office said Wednesday the new Local Police Force will operate under the authority of the Interior Ministry.

The force will operate separately from the Afghan National Police.

NATO Commander Gen. David Petraeus has argued in favor of local defense forces in some areas — essentially residents who defend their own locality.

Karzai has expressed reservations, fearing they would be like local militias that could undermine the central government and possibly fuel civil war.

The interior minister is to provide details of the proposal to the security council at its next meeting.