Publication

This report is concerned with the Afghan National Police (ANP) in light of the forthcoming withdrawal of the NATO training mission. It finds that the ANP is unlikely to be able to enforce the rule of law following the withdrawal because of its configuration as a militarized counterinsurgency force in the fight against the Taliban. There is also a lack of consensus concerning future size, mission and resources of the ANP. The authors conclude that it is imperative that the United States and the international community address the challenge of transforming the ANP from a counterinsurgency force into a police service capable of enforcing the rule of law.