Background:

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced the launch of the security charter programme on July 14, 2020. Presidential Spokesman Sidiq Sidiqi had told the launching ceremony the charter was aimed at strengthening security and effectively combating crime. He said the programme would be developed and implemented in Kabul before it was enforced in other provinces.
 

Abdul Saboor Qane, deputy minister of interior, had said at the ceremony the security charter had 41 articles, which specified responsibilities of the National Police, Afghan National Army (ANA), National Directorate of Security (NDS) and eight civilian institutions. Journalists sought from MoI details of the 41 articles for explaining them to the public, but the ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said the articles were confidential and could not be shared with the media.

Abdul Wasil Ibrahimi has recently been appointed as the security charter program Advisor by Amrullah Saleh and he held meeting with veteran former jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf and his nephew Mumtaz Sayyaf in Paghman district of Kabul. (20200825)

The MoI and the first vice-president’s office said the charter was an agreement between the people and security forces, but it did not have a budget or a specific structure for arming the people.

Kabul Governor Mohammad Yaqoob Haidari told Pajhwok the weapons and other military equipment for the programme were being provided by the MoI and funded by the NDS. He hoped the programme would ensure unity and help create an environment where people would work with the security forces to maintain order in their areas. Once the security part of the programme was completed, he said, people would get jobs, financial support and education and then it would transform into a local army. The governor revealed preliminary work on enforcing the security charter had started in some districts of Kabul and a list of people who would work with the government to ensure security under the porgramme was being prepared.
 

Some people had concerns about the programme, Haidari acknowledged. The initiative would allow people being hired by local councils to ensure security. Before the weapons were distributed in Kabul’s Shakardara district, people had helped the security forces carry out operations and identify suspects, he concluded. Security forces carried out operations in Shakardara district almost two weeks back.

Anwar Khan Oryakhel, a member of Wolesi Jirga from Kabul and a resident of Qarabagh district, said: “Currently, weapons have been distributed in the most insecure districts, particularly in Koh Daman (north of Kabul). The authorities concerned meet such armed men occasionally.”

He said a number of individuals were happy with the programme, which aimed to help them live in a peaceful environment. “I don't know whether or not anyone has received arms yet, but people have been asked how many weapons are needed and who is ready for joining this program.”

Former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil wrote on his Facebook page: “Some circles in the government have been busy with the creation of militias in different parts of the country, but I would like to say the formation of such militias would not put an end to the ongoing conflict. Instead it would take us back to mistakes of the 70s.” (20200826)
 

Meanwhile, a former number of lawmakers in Afghanistan’s parliament have confirmed reports that the Afghan government was arming local strongmen and militia forces in the northern regions of the country. “Arms are being distributed by the high-level government officials---this is happening particularly in northern provinces. This is a problem because some people have major influence in these provinces,” said Humayoun Humayoun, a former MP.(20200827)

Lawmakers in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (lower house of parliament) accused the government of trying to arm at least 30,000 individuals under the “security charter” plan in various provinces, saying such a move will not help the security situation in the country.(20200908)