The Afghanistan National Police (ANP)

[Steve Blair]

Another parallel if I may, what significant event contributed to the reconstruction and development of our national governments in the time of the wild west? I believe the national railway was very significant in the west's national identity, unity and fostered security, governance, reconstrution and development. I believe the building of a national railway could foster such a change in Afghanistan and the idea merits serious consideration. It would provide national transportation for security personnel movements, reliable public transportation and migration, linking of education and medical facilities, foster trade and goods exchange, facilitate industrialization, and in the interim, represent a significant source of jobs. If it isn't militarized, then insurgents should ignore or tolerate it's presence since they would benefit from it as much as others. Just a thought.

MikeF should have warned you that I like to compare Afghanistan (in general, not in some of the particulars) to Arizona between 1860 or so and 1876. The similarities are fascinating, including a transition from preparation for a high-intensity conflict to more Small Wars-style operations, muddled command arrangements after 1865, and a number of competing interest groups (to include a local government that profited from Indian wars, a number of different tribal groups, Federal government representatives, and the Army often caught in the middle).

As for the development of the West, the railroad was certainly an important factor, but possibly not the decisive one. It wasn't reliable or truly national for some years (the whole "Golden Spike" thing aside), and its impact was limited until the mid to late 1880s outside of its main corridors. I would contend that industrialization had a bigger impact, to include the national thirst for precious metals (something we had in common with the Spanish Empire not that long before us). Prospecting, and later deep rock mining, drove a great deal of the settlement and development in many areas of the West (miners have to eat, and they have specie to buy goods). There was also a great deal of displacement going on, even among the new Anglo arrivals.

And I don't know if you could count on insurgents ignoring a railroad. Railroads bring outside influences, modernization, and any number of assorted things they might not appreciate or welcome. Also, if it makes it easier for Government forces to concentrate it becomes a target for that reason alone.

Just some thoughts in response to your thoughts.

[OfTheTroops]

We do this.... Police mentor teams
and they have that ANCOP
just hasnt always been the priority

[OfTheTroops]

Texas Rangers

[Red Rat]

We do this.... Police mentor teams
and they have that ANCOP
just hasnt always been the priority

But most police mentor teams have a limited policing capability and focus on the security aspect of work. Who is mentoring the the afghan police on scenes of crime work (which is still applicable in the Afghan judicial system even if it consists only in taking a photograph or suspect with evidence at crime scene or video recording the suspect re-enacting the crime, both acceptible, indeed preferred by Afghan courts). Who is mentoring the Highway Police on how to ensure vehicles are roadworthy under Afghan regulations?

The ANCOP (Afghan Civil Order Police) appear to be an Afghan version of the French CRS, a highly specialised public order capability, possibly with some specialised anti-terrorist capability as well.

We appear to be focusing on the ANP as a security force and not a police force. Working on the Combined Action principle as alluded to earlier in this thread I think we can and should be playing things smarter.

I think there is merit in a centrally based investigative arm.

The issue hinges on what role do we expect police forces to play in society, and in a society in conflict. Once you know what you want then you look at a suitable mechanism for carrying out that role, then you can look (in Afghanistan) at the plan and TTPs needed to grow that capability in conflict.

[IntelTrooper]

But most police mentor teams have a limited policing capability and focus on the security aspect of work.

Not to mention limited time to spend with each district's ANP, meaning plenty of time for them to get back into their bad habits.

Who is mentoring the the afghan police on scenes of crime work (which is still applicable in the Afghan judicial system [...] Who is mentoring the Highway Police on how to ensure vehicles are roadworthy under Afghan regulations?

Also, who is teaching them the value of the rule of law in the first place? We teach them tactics, but not how to determine the correct situations to use them, or even why.

Once you know what you want then you look at a suitable mechanism for carrying out that role, then you can look (in Afghanistan) at the plan and TTPs needed to grow that capability in conflict.

Exactly -- we are confused about what the ANP should be doing and therefore so are the ANP.

[Red Rat]

Speaking to people in Helmand, it is apparent that in parts of Helmand Province the ANP is now turning out in greater numbers and proving more reliable then the ANA.

A combination of several factors. The Helmand Police Training Centre is now up and running (and well resourced), and is turning out formed cohesive sub-units of ANP (who are local to Helmand). The emphasis is still on the ANP as a primarily security force, but if that is what is needed...

Interestingly, like Iraq it has taken us some time to focus on the police, and yet when we do focus effort and resources there we find that the dividends are quick and the police can change from being part of the problem to part of the solution, especially with the overlap between criminality and insurgency in most COIN situations.

Perhaps next time we should focus on building up the police first, recognising that in a COIN situation police provide the bedrock element of security and intelligence and that a police force is more likely to provide a pervasive destabilising influence then the army which generally remains free of insurgent and criminal elements for longer.

[OfTheTroops]

The problem is that there are not enough Military police who can do this partnering/advising quite effectively and everyone else thinks they can do it just as well. If its the sexiest part of the fight or where the action is then that is where all of the maneuver( non-LE ROL ) types do not wanna be on the FOB...or they want the civilian surge.......And of course Civi Police do not flock to warzones out of camoflauge in droves... and Contractors perpetuate their contracts.... and uh oh i am complaining... Repeal posse Comitatus and establish the Military Police as the proponent for stability policing units DSCA and FID/SFA. Thats our bag.

[huskerguy7]

I have not heard of CA, but it sounds like common sense. The police police, the army provides security and ISAF provide the overwatch and specialist capabilities. Is the role of the ANA to mentor, monitor or protect the ANP?

CA is a great idea (the ANA both protect and monitor the ANP), but as you can imagine, setting it up can be difficult; you're working with four different groups. My point is that we shouldn't rely on it.

(From Red Rat:As far as I can make out the ANP is little more then a local protection force at the moment, and not what we would regard as a police force. Does AFG want the ANP to provide a policing service or an internal security service? Perhaps what we should be looking at is rolling out a paramilitary security service (the ANP) with limited policing expertise (and powers) and a separate more specialised policing branch. Many developed countries have a policing service and then a paramilitary 'knock heads' service (the French CRS, elements of the Italian Carabineri and the Spanish Civil Guard all spring to mind) with the balance weighted towards the policing. Perhaps in an unstable country we want to reverse polarity, with the majority of the policing being of the paramilitary type and a smaller civil policing / investigative branch?

I really like this idea. I think that that we should consider establishing a new organization that focuses on enforcing the law, not providing security. The ANP is clearly made to do the latter. This is nice, but who's going to enforce the law? Yes, the judicial system isn't very strong, but it may get somewhere if it is enforced properly. I'm looking at images of the ANP and they are patrolling with heavy PKM MGs. This just supports the assertion that they are a security force. In my opinion, this should change.

Another parallel if I may, what significant event contributed to the reconstruction and development of our national governments in the time of the wild west? I believe the national railway was very significant in the west's national identity, unity and fostered security, governance, reconstrution and development. I believe the building of a national railway could foster such a change in Afghanistan and the idea merits serious consideration. It would provide national transportation for security personnel movements, reliable public transportation and migration, linking of education and medical facilities, foster trade and goods exchange, facilitate industrialization, and in the interim, represent a significant source of jobs. If it isn't militarized, then insurgents should ignore or tolerate it's presence since they would benefit from it as much as others. Just a thought.

This is a good suggestion that definitley should be considered. However, I think that securing it would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible. It's comparable to the construction of power lines in Afghanistan. Electricity can benefit both civilians and enemy combatants. However, the Taliban ignored this and continuously attacked the powerlines rendering them useless. Neither the contractor's PMCs or the contingent of the ANP could secure the lines until a couple hundred ANA and ISAF forces assisted. My point is that despite the benefits, it would be to difficult to secure.

But most police mentor teams have a limited policing capability and focus on the security aspect of work. Who is mentoring the the afghan police on scenes of crime work (which is still applicable in the Afghan judicial system even if it consists only in taking a photograph or suspect with evidence at crime scene or video recording the suspect re-enacting the crime, both acceptible, indeed preferred by Afghan courts). Who is mentoring the Highway Police on how to ensure vehicles are roadworthy under Afghan regulations?

The ANCOP (Afghan Civil Order Police) appear to be an Afghan version of the French CRS, a highly specialised public order capability, possibly with some specialised anti-terrorist capability as well.

We appear to be focusing on the ANP as a security force and not a police force. Working on the Combined Action principle as alluded to earlier in this thread I think we can and should be playing things smarter.

I think there is merit in a centrally based investigative arm.

I completely agree. Modifying the ANP from a paramilitary security force to a law enforcement group would be to difficult. Thus, I think we should investigate establishing a new organization that focuses strictly on law enforcement.

Speaking to people in Helmand, it is apparent that in parts of Helmand Province the ANP is now turning out in greater numbers and proving more reliable then the ANA.

A combination of several factors. The Helmand Police Training Centre is now up and running (and well resourced), and is turning out formed cohesive sub-units of ANP (who are local to Helmand). The emphasis is still on the ANP as a primarily security force, but if that is what is needed...

Interestingly, like Iraq it has taken us some time to focus on the police, and yet when we do focus effort and resources there we find that the dividends are quick and the police can change from being part of the problem to part of the solution, especially with the overlap between criminality and insurgency in most COIN situations.

Perhaps next time we should focus on building up the police first, recognising that in a COIN situation police provide the bedrock element of security and intelligence and that a police force is more likely to provide a pervasive destabilising influence then the army which generally remains free of insurgent and criminal elements for longer.

I like this idea alot. If there is a "next time", the invading country should have the capacity to provide security, so they should invest their resources into stabilizing the whole legal system starting with law enforcement.