AFGHAN NATIONAL CIVIL ORDER POLICE: FIRST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001727 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, S/CT, EUR/RPM, INL/CIVPOL, STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG, NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A, CG CJTF-82, POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS NATO AF SUBJECT: AFGHAN NATIONAL CIVIL ORDER POLICE: FIRST BATTALIONS GRADUATED AND READY FOR DUTY REF: KABUL 435 ¶1. Summary: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) graduated the first two battalions of the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) May 17 in a ceremony at the Mazar-E-Sharif Regional Training Center (RTC) . These two battalions will be deployed in Kabul as a riot intervention force. According to an INL mentor involved in the training, the graduating class is an ethnically diverse group with greater literacy and professionalism than other ANP forces. The Embassy will continue to work closely with MOI, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A),and the international community to ensure that the unit is well led and paid and the recruits are carefully chosen and vetted. End Summary. ¶2. The MOI graduated two battalions of approximately 306 ANCOP recruits May 17 at the Mazar-E-Sharif Regional Training Center (RTC) . Several senior MOI officials attended the ceremony, including Minister of Interior Zarar Moqbel, as well as local and provincial officials, senior officers from CSTC-A, the German Police Project Office (GPPO) and U.S. Embassy representatives. (Note: As noted in reftel, ANCOP is intended to respond rapidly to urban unrest, civil disorder, and national emergencies. The ANCOP unit trained in Mazar is intended for urban riot control duty. ANCOP training of a rural battalion is also currently ongoing in Herat. That group is focused on providing a mobile police presence in high-threat provincial and district areas. Together, the urban and rural units will eventually provide the GOA with a police force capable of enforcing the rule of law nationwide. CSTC-A estimates that will take two years before the full authorized 5,000 ANCOP force is recruited, trained, and deployed to urban and rural areas. End note) ¶3. Minister Zarar Moqbel represented the MOI at the ceremony and delivered an impassioned speech highlighting the importance of service to the nation and the duty of Afghan police to protect the Afghan people. Following his speech, Moqbel presented certificates to several recruits and met with them after the ceremony. He also held a press conference with Afghan media outlets. Moqbel's presentation at the graduation ceremony was a departure from his typical introverted style. He delivered his speech with enthusiasm and appeared to be very comfortable interacting with the recruits. ¶4. CSTC-A Deputy Commanding General Canadian Brigadier General Gregory Young also delivered remarks to the recruits. In particular he recognized the important efforts of German Police Project Office (GPPO) in assisting with curriculum and training instructors for ANCOP. (Note: GPPO provided six weeks of critical specialized training for ANCOP recruits focused on urban crowd control. End note.) ¶5. In a conversation with Polmiloff, an INL mentor said this ANCOP class had a greater degree of professionalism and a 95% literacy rate (far higher than previous ANP recruit classes). He also said the battalions were ethnically balanced and they had learned to work together as a unit. (Note: ANCOP recruits received 16 weeks of training, which is double the amount of training provided to other ANP elements. The MOI is using a more rapid promotion system for ANCOP personnel to recruit quality personnel and decrease corruption. During the first eight weeks of training, the recruits received the standard ANP pay of $70 per month and following completion of the course recruits were promoted to the rank of Second Sergeant and were paid $140 per month. End note) The ANCOP recruits appear to be generally older compared to ANP and Afghan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP) recruits, and they appeared to be more physically fit than other patrolmen. COMMENT ¶6. These relatively highly trained and well-equipped forces KABUL 00001727 002 OF 002 will be deployed in critical security positions throughout Afghanistan, including the capital region. The program's success will depend on four crucial factors: leadership, maintaining ethnic balance, pay, and facility construction and maintenance. While the initial cadre of leadership appears good, the international community will need to work closely with MOI to ensure professional commanders continue to be chosen to lead the battalions. Preserving an ethnic balance is also essential for the development of a truly national Afghan police force. Finally, ANCOP will also require continued financial commitment from the international community. Should ANCOP run into the pay problems that are afflicting other elements of the Afghan police, and the patrolmen become demoralized from lack of pay, this elite unit could become a subversive threat to Afghan security. Embassy, CSTC-A and the international community are closely engaged with the MOI on the pay issue and we will continue to monitor its progress. Finally, the issue of facility construction and maintenance is important for sustaining ANCOP. ANCOP battalions will receive more sophisticated weapons and equipment compared with other ANP forces and maintenance will require continued financial commitment. WOOD