Afghans see their police more as a source of fear than security. But Afghanistan needs a police service not a police force. This research by International Crisis Group argues that policing goes to the very heart of state-building since a national institution that provides security and justice is central to government legitimacy. Police reform should focus on accountability, ethnic representation and professionalism. It should also depoliticise and institutionalise appointments and procedures. The police should not be used to fight the insurgency.
Nearly six years after the fall of the Taliban, the Afghan National Police are still not functioning as an effective democratic force. This is due to the failure of the international community to understand the critical importance of comprehensively reforming the law enforcement and justice sectors. President Karzai’s government still lacks the political will to tackle the culture of impunity and to end political interference in appointments and operations. The narcotics trade, which is growing as a result of poor policing, has further hindered institution building. It is also a major corrupting influence on attempted reforms. At the same time, comprehensive police reform is giving way to temporary solutions designed to address the growing insurgency.
However, there have been some improvements. In several urban centres, equipment and buildings have been improved. The police have new uniforms and some have better equipment. New systems and structures at the interior ministry provide a veneer of professionalism. However the return on invested human and financial capital is small:
- The vetting of police leadership through the pay and rank reform is proving difficult as factional networks and drug alliances compete for posts, particularly lucrative ones that oversee smuggling routes.
- The international community’s conflicting visions of reform are undermining progress. There is a lack of experienced institutions to oversee police reform.
- The U.S. decision to give a leading role in its police programmes to the Department of Defence has further blurred the distinction between the military and police.
- The European Union Police Mission to Afghanistan (EUPOL) so far lacks numbers and a robust mandate.
- The international community recognises the need for reform but the growing insecurity means that the police are being asked to take on roles for which they are neither equipped nor trained.
If police reform in Afghanistan is to succeed, the goal should be creation of a trusted, civilian service, which enforces – and is accountable to – the rule of law.
- Wolesi Jirga (the lower house of the National Assembly) should hold widely-advertised public hearings, consult technical experts and prioritise passage of the Police Law.
- The President’s Office should ensure police professionalism through the pay and rank reform and vetting of appointments. Refrain from interfering in police operational matters. Help raise police prestige by publicly recognising acts of bravery.
- The Interior Ministry and Police Commissioner should prioritise accountability and seek greater professionalism and diversity.
- Donors should emphasise professional civilian policing.
- The Council of the European Union should consider building the EUPOL mission into a comprehensive rule of law mission covering the full justice sector.
- The International Police Coordination Board should develop an overarching strategy on police reform and ensure citizens’ voices are heard and oversight capacity is built.
