U.S. backs Afghan plan of dissolving private security firms: ambassador

The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry here on Wednesday said that his country backs the Afghan government's plan of dissolving of all private security firms.

"The U.S. has always been in full support with Afghan presidential decree number 62 and want to say our commitment," the top U.S. diplomat responded to Xinhua's query in a joint press conference with Afghan Interior Minister Besmillah Mohammadi.

"I have traveled across the country with Minister Mohammadi on this matter," said the U.S. ambassador, adding, "and we have had fundamental questions 'Why have private security company during this kind of work when Afghan National Police need to be further developed and Afghan National Army has more requirements."

"I tell you as an ambassador personally with my experience in Afghanistan, 100 percent support to this process, our government has 100 percent support to President Karzai's decree," he emphasized.

The Afghan interior minister in the same press conference said that the security firms involving in development projects could run their activities but the decision would be made in three months whether to ban those firms as well.

Mohammadi said that a joint panel concerned for the process has investigated 54 companies, out of which, 26 had been dissolved and over 2,200 various kinds of weapons have been sized.

"The deadline for the remaining firms is Nov. 17," the Afghan minister stated.

President Hamid Karzai in mid August this year expressed concern over the activities of private security companies and called for their banning.

Dozens of private security firms are active in Afghanistan and most of them provide escort for NATO-led troops' logistic convoys and guards for foreign agencies' offices based in Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua