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Afghan police recruits' training halted after attacks on Nato | Afghan police recruits' training halted after attacks on Nato |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US says it is suspending training for new recruits to the Afghan local police (ALP) while checks are carried out on possible ties to the Taliban. | The US says it is suspending training for new recruits to the Afghan local police (ALP) while checks are carried out on possible ties to the Taliban. |
The move follows a series of incidents in which foreign troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or policemen. | The move follows a series of incidents in which foreign troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or policemen. |
The suspension of training - which only applies to new ALP recruits - will allow US special operations forces to "re-vet" current ALP forces. | The suspension of training - which only applies to new ALP recruits - will allow US special operations forces to "re-vet" current ALP forces. |
US special forces currently have around 1,000 Afghan local police trainees. | US special forces currently have around 1,000 Afghan local police trainees. |
"While we have full trust and confidence in our Afghan partners, we believe this is a necessary step to validate our vetting process and ensure the quality indicative of Afghan local police," Col Thomas Collins, spokesperson for US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. | "While we have full trust and confidence in our Afghan partners, we believe this is a necessary step to validate our vetting process and ensure the quality indicative of Afghan local police," Col Thomas Collins, spokesperson for US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. |
The suspension of training would be "temporary", according to Col Collins, adding: "Despite the recent rise in insider attacks, they are relatively rare among SOF [Special Operations Forces]-partnered forces." | The suspension of training would be "temporary", according to Col Collins, adding: "Despite the recent rise in insider attacks, they are relatively rare among SOF [Special Operations Forces]-partnered forces." |
An existing eight-step vetting programme will be made more rigorous, officials say. | An existing eight-step vetting programme will be made more rigorous, officials say. |
The number of counter-intelligence teams will be increased and there will be greater vetting when Afghan soldiers return from leave. | The number of counter-intelligence teams will be increased and there will be greater vetting when Afghan soldiers return from leave. |
The international mission here has been trying to get a grip on rising insider or "green-on-blue" attacks. Recently commanders from all the various forces here met to discuss how they stop the attacks happening. | The international mission here has been trying to get a grip on rising insider or "green-on-blue" attacks. Recently commanders from all the various forces here met to discuss how they stop the attacks happening. |
It was agreed then to re-examine the vetting of candidates. American special forces commanders, who are responsible training the ALP, consulted with Gen John Allen and the Afghan Ministry of Interior. | It was agreed then to re-examine the vetting of candidates. American special forces commanders, who are responsible training the ALP, consulted with Gen John Allen and the Afghan Ministry of Interior. |
Training for around 1,000 new recruits is suspended - and the remaining 15,000 plus ALP members will continue working as normal but will be 're-vetted'. The ALP have been to blame for a number of green-on-blue attacks, but more come from the regular army and police force. | Training for around 1,000 new recruits is suspended - and the remaining 15,000 plus ALP members will continue working as normal but will be 're-vetted'. The ALP have been to blame for a number of green-on-blue attacks, but more come from the regular army and police force. |
It remains to be seen whether the rest of Afghan forces, namely the national police and the national Army, will also have to undergo revetting. That would be a huge task given that they number almost 350,000. | It remains to be seen whether the rest of Afghan forces, namely the national police and the national Army, will also have to undergo revetting. That would be a huge task given that they number almost 350,000. |
The sale of Afghan army and police uniforms will be made illegal. | The sale of Afghan army and police uniforms will be made illegal. |
Military guidelines on vetting have sometimes not been followed in the past for fear of slowing the growth of the Afghan security forces, officials told the Washington Post. | Military guidelines on vetting have sometimes not been followed in the past for fear of slowing the growth of the Afghan security forces, officials told the Washington Post. |
Operations by forces already trained would continue, as would the recruitment of new trainees, US Special Operations Forces spokesman Lt Col John Harrell told the Associated Press. | Operations by forces already trained would continue, as would the recruitment of new trainees, US Special Operations Forces spokesman Lt Col John Harrell told the Associated Press. |
There are currently 16,380 members of the ALP. | There are currently 16,380 members of the ALP. |
The Afghan army and national police, trained by Nato, are unaffected by the suspension. The training of Afghan special forces will also continue. | The Afghan army and national police, trained by Nato, are unaffected by the suspension. The training of Afghan special forces will also continue. |
On average, 7,000 Afghan soldiers and 3,700 Afghan police graduate from training every month. | On average, 7,000 Afghan soldiers and 3,700 Afghan police graduate from training every month. |
The ALP is a relatively new force, introduced to improve security in some of the most remote parts of the country, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul reports. | The ALP is a relatively new force, introduced to improve security in some of the most remote parts of the country, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul reports. |
'Green-on-blue' attacks | |
On Wednesday, three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in Afghan army uniform in Uruzgan province. | On Wednesday, three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in Afghan army uniform in Uruzgan province. |
Currently, approximately 130,000 Nato troops are fighting insurgents in Afghanistan alongside 350,000 Afghans. | Currently, approximately 130,000 Nato troops are fighting insurgents in Afghanistan alongside 350,000 Afghans. |
Some 45 coalition troops have died in more than 30 "green-on-blue" attacks this year, at least 15 of them in August alone. | Some 45 coalition troops have died in more than 30 "green-on-blue" attacks this year, at least 15 of them in August alone. |
The term refers to the colour-coding systems used by the US military - Nato forces are "blue" and Afghans are "green". | The term refers to the colour-coding systems used by the US military - Nato forces are "blue" and Afghans are "green". |
The Taliban has been actively recruiting members of the Afghan security forces, publicly announcing that insider attacks were a central part of their strategy against Nato forces. | The Taliban has been actively recruiting members of the Afghan security forces, publicly announcing that insider attacks were a central part of their strategy against Nato forces. |
Most of the victims of the green-on-blue attacks have been Americans. | Most of the victims of the green-on-blue attacks have been Americans. |
Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to the killing of civilians by an ALP commander. The BBC now understands this was a local militia commander, not a policeman. |