Afghanistan to scrap ban on private security firms

Afghanistan announced Monday that it would scrap plans to ban private security firms working across the country, announcing instead new restrictions on their operations.

All 52 licensed companies will now continue to provide security to the international forces, the Pentagon, the UN mission, aid and non-governmental organizations, embassies and Western media companies in Afghanistan.

"Their future operations will continue in accordance with the law and regulations in place," interior ministry adviser Abdul Manan Farahi said.

In August, Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered the dissolution of all private security firms by the end of the year, causing fears that it could endanger vital aid projects and the transport of military supplies.

He rowed back in October under intense pressure from his Western diplomatic and military backers, extending the deadline for dissolution and allowing firms protecting embassies and military bases to continue their work.

Tighter rules

Monday's announcement means that the firms can carry on working, but under tighter rules.

The seven security companies contracted to secure NATO's supply convoys will now have to work alongside 50 Afghan police officers.

Private security contractors must move their headquarters out of Kabul's de facto diplomatic enclave towards the city outskirts, and all guards must wear uniforms and cannot carry weapons in residential areas when off duty.

They are not allowed to stop vehicles, search houses or block roads for security reasons, said Farahi.

And there will be a gradual transition of security for foreign development projects from private security firms to Afghan forces, he said.

The rules are meant to assuage Karzai's concerns that the companies run an "economic mafia" based around "corruption contracts" favored by the international community.

Karzai has said the firms duplicate the work of the Afghan security forces and divert much-needed resources, while Afghans criticize the private guards as overbearing and abusive, particularly on the country's roads.

Critics have said the tight deadline would not allow enough time to negotiate an alternative to private contractors in a country were security is a priority and police are generally not trusted.

Security firms under criminal investigation could still be forced to close, and a list of banned companies will be announced on December 17, Farahi said.

Another 57 firms that were already declared illegal are being closed, Farahi said, with the final three to be dissolved within one week.

In southern Afghanistan, the main battlefield against the Taliban, two NATO soldiers were killed in separate incidents Monday, the military announced.

At least 680 foreign soldiers have been killed in the Afghan war so far this year, by far the bloodiest toll in the nine-year conflict, according to an AFP tally based on that tracked by the independent icasualties.org website.

Last year 521 foreign troops were killed.