Karzai Orders Dissolution Of Security Firms To Begin

Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered the disbanding of all private security companies in Afghanistan by the end of this year.

A statement from Karzai's office on August 21 said that the Interior Ministry, the national directorate of security, and the intelligence agency are preparing a list of all registered private security companies to be dissolved.

It added that unregistered firms will take priority in the disbanding process.

Private security firms in Afghanistan are employed by U.S. and NATO forces, the Pentagon, the UN mission, aid and nongovernmental organizations, embassies, and Western media.

compiled from agency reports