Karzai Tells Security Contractors to Take a Hike

Hamad Karzai

Afghan President Hamad Karzai has issued a stern decree to private security contractors, demanding that the firms cease operations in the country within four months.

NATO, which relies on private contractors to secure convoys and bases, is expected to resist the move.

According to Karzai’s order, contractors must disband or join the Afghan police.  International embassies and organizations not affiliated with a government will not have to comply with the decree, if the security personnel stay within their compounds.

“After some thorough and legal review I am approving the annulment of foreign and national security companies within four months,” Karzai said, according to the BBC.

Karzai said the decision is a result of “tragic incidents” involving security contractors in which innocent civilians had been killed.

While there are 52 companies registered with the Afghan government, including many Afghan-based firms, there are numerous unregistered companies trolling the Afghanistan countryside without uniforms or supervision, the BBC reported.

The State Department was cold to the order, but did not offer an outright dismissal.

“At this moment, we believe there is still a need for private security companies to continue to operate in Afghanistan – four months is a very challenging deadline,” State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said.

Posted by Jim Garrettson on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010. Filed under General, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry