Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 06/2014

The Afghan National Police in 2015 and Beyond

Michelle Hughes

May 2014

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

As Afghanistan shifts from a war footing and coalition forces draw down, the Afghan National Police faces a daunting task. Not only must it shift from military-oriented security operations to true community policing, but it must also fill some considerable gaps in its capacity to manage itself as a civilian-led arm of a democratically elected government. Development is crucial, but for it to have any legitimacy, the impetus must come from the Afghans themselves. At this critical juncture, donor nations and organizations must unite to help the Afghans integrate this effort across the full spectrum of governance.