LESSONS ENCOUNTERED

Raising and Mentoring Security Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq
Perhaps the greatest challenge in working with the MOI and the ANP
has been corruption. Despite focused efforts by donor nations and the ISAF
command element, corruption has remained a major issue for Afghanistan
as a whole and the police in particular. Organizations as disparate as Transparency
International, the World Bank, and the Asia Foundation have consistently
reported increasing levels of corruption in Afghanistan from 2005
to the present. 76 The continuing and deleterious nature of corruption in the
ANP has been the subject of dozens of government, academic, and thinktank
reports. A recent Google search of the specific phrase “Afghan police
corruption” brought 226,000 hits. If one takes the quotes off, it brings over
1 million hits. Nor are there indications the Afghans have a plan for dealing
with this problem. In December 2013, Thomas Ruttig of Afghan Analysts
Network noted, “The Ministry of Interior—known for its systematic sale of
positions—has, according to the oversight body SIGAR, completely stopped
its anti-corruption reforms.” 77
Despite the prevailing corruption, Michelle Hughes, a former DOD official
who has field experience in 12 countries, reports there are reasons for both optimism
and pessimism concerning the future of the ANP. On the positive side:
n The international community’s heavy investment in police education,
training, mentoring, and equipping has led to a large,
increasingly effective police force.
n Public trust and confidence in the ANP are the highest they
have been in 7 years.
n The Afghan Minster of Interior has developed his own 10-year
vision to make the police an essential public service.
n Afghan officials are becoming the greatest proponents for the
professionalization of the police as a law enforcement service.
However:
n There has been little progress toward action to take the ANP
to the next level of professionalism. The effort continues to be ad
hoc, disaggregated, and poorly defined.
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