AFP in Afghanistan

25 February 2008

Government sources

Australian Federal Police (AFP), Portfolio Budget Statement 2007-2008, Attorney-General's Department, Australia

AFP contribution to Afghanistan: $2.595m.

AFP personnel deploy to Afghanistan, Senator the Hon Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs, Australia, 31 January 2007

"Australian Federal Police (AFP) personnel will support the international effort to assist police in Afghanistan over the next two years, the Minister for Justice & Customs, Senator Chris Ellison announced today."

Current Deployments - Afghanistan, Australian Federal Police

"In early 2006 a request was received from the (then) British Foreign Secretary for Australia to contribute police to assist with mentoring for the newly created Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA). The Combined Security Transition Command's (CSTC-A) recent assumption of the U.S. Government's role in reforming the Afghan National Police provides a historic opportunity to help provide stable rule of law in Afghanistan. CSTC-A works with Germany, the lead nation in Afghan Police reform, and other members of the international community to collectively deliver a professional police force that will enhance the security of the Afghan people. Australia has agreed to provide 2 officers to work with the CNPA in Jalalabad (eastern part of the country) and 2 officers to work in Kabul (the capital) with CSTC-A. Members working in Jalalabad will provide advice and mentor senior CNPA staff in that region involved in counter narcotics detection and investigations.

"A member attached to CSTC-A will act as the AFP Contingent Commander in Afghanistan. The Kabul component will also provide mentoring to senior ANP personnel or be directly attached to CSTC-A to provide policing advice and policy development for that organisation."

Analysis

Federal Officers to Assist Afghan Police, Tom hyland, The Age, 24 February 2008

"The Federal Government is considering expanding the AFP's role in Afghanistan - currently restricted to just four officers - as part of its plan to widen Australia's effort in the war-torn country. The army and police needed to grow to "hold our military gains and enforce the rule of law", Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Parliament. The AFP' has about 500 of its 6400 officers already serving overseas."

 Australian help sought for drug fight, Mark Dodd, The Australian, 20 February 2007

“Afghanistan has warned it could unravel into a terrorist-backed narco-state unless Australia and the rest of the international community send specialist police to combat the heroin trafficking which is funding the Taliban insurgency.

“The war-battered nation's ambassador to Canberra, Mohammed Anwar Anwarzai, said yesterday Australia's military deployment had helped build local trust, but a dangerous vacuum existed in the wake of their withdrawal last year. ‘Unfortunately, we are now on the verge of becoming a narco-state. I can confess to that,’ Mr Anwarzai told The Australian.

“In its first acknowledgement of the extent of the problem, Canberra is planning to send four AFP agents to Afghanistan to help with police training and monitoring of illicit opium exports. Two armed AFP agents will be based in the opium heartland of Jalalabad to gather intelligence on opium smuggling.”

Armed guards to protect Federal Police, news.com.au, 8 February 2007

"Private, armed security guards will protect four Australian Federal Police officers being sent to Afghanistan to help try to curb the amount of heroin being produced in the country."

Tigers and Teargas: Postcard from Pakistan , Federal Agent Andew Wharton, Platypus Magazine, Edition 91, June 2006.

"The AFP’s Islamabad office was established in May 1984 and is currently staffed by a senior liaison officer and two locally engaged staff, with a further AFP position to be established later this year. Our first-tier country is Pakistan where the current primary focus is counter-terrorism and migration issues. The priority two countries are Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Responsibility for Sri Lanka will soon transfer to a newly-established AFP post in India. The Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan comprise the level three countries. Our area of operation is bordered by Iran, China and Russia. Working in these countries provides a unique opportunity to witness new law enforcement practices and share knowledge and information with our international policing partners. Pakistan continues to produce counter-terrorism operations relevant to Australia, with people smuggling also a major source of work."

See also

• Opium and narco-politics, Australian Forces Abroad: Afghanistan