Karzai to replace ‘private security firms’ with local security forces in Afghanistan

LONDON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai wants to scrap private security firms, who work mainly for Western companies and are not accountable locally, and replace them with local security forces.

“Dissolving the private security companies is a serious programme that the government of Afghanistan will execute,” the BBC quoted Waheed Omer, a spokesman for President Karzai, as saying.

“Very soon, the president of Afghanistan will set a deadline,” he added.

Among those who use private security contractors in Afghanistan is the US government.

Earlier, the Afghan government had tried unsuccessfully to register them and find out details of their weaponry and their earnings.

Omer also informed that Karzai had discussed the issue with commanders of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and developed a plan for Afghan security forces to absorb the work done by the private security firms.

Earlier, Karzai had said that the government “could no longer tolerate the existence of such parallel structures… whether they are owned by foreigners or Afghans”.

He added that people do not trust these companies and believe their existence is against Afghanistan’s national interests. (ANI)