The commander of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Uruzgan claims the provincial police force is corrupt.

The police force is largely made up of locally-recruited officers who have conflicting loyalties. The ANA in Uruzgan on the other hand is principally made up of soldiers who come from other parts of Afghanistan. Brigadier General Hamid told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that locals in Uruzgan are being turned against the armed forces.

Discord between police and army has been the cause of at least four Afghan civilian deaths in recent months, according to the Brigadier General. He claims the United Nations also mistrusts the police force and is planning a withdrawal.

Both the ANA and the police are trained by the Dutch-led Task Force Uruzgan, with the aim of enabling the two security forces to work together smoothly.

Dutch General Mark van Uhm told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that within a few months the two forces will have to take entirely independent control of security in parts of Uruzgan. The Dutch mission in the province is scheduled to end this year.
 

Brigadier General Hamid (photo Dutch Defence Ministry)