Rejecting Erik Prince’s plan to privatise parts of US military operations in Afghanistan, the government says won’t allow for-profit business.
New Delhi: The spokesperson of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has tweeted in support of Afghanistan government’s rejection of a proposal to have military contractors to take over training and advising of Afghan armed forces.
The government rejection came after a continuous campaign by Erik Prince, founder and former CEO of US security company Blackwater USA (now Academi), to privatise parts of the US military operations in Afghanistan by using ‘contractors’ instead of foreign troops.
President Ashraf Ghani has repeatedly rejected the move.
Also read: Jalaluddin Haqqani played all sides in the Great Game of Afghanistan
Stating that Afghanistan is against proposed privatisation of the war on terror in the country, the Afghan Office of the National Security Council (NSC) said Thursday that as a sovereign nation the country will consider all legal options against those who try to privatise war on their land.
“A debate has recently emerged regarding privatizing the Afghan war, with the purpose of adding new foreign and unaccountable elements to our fight. This idea violates the principle that Afghans determine their own future,” said the NSC statement.
Soon after, Karzai’s spokesperson Aimal Faizi tweeted, “Wise words! Keep an eye on @TOLOnews (MOBY Group). Such market driven media outlets, controlled by #Washington, are anti-democratic, openly promoting war in #Afghanistan.”
Wise words! Keep an eye on @TOLOnews (MOBY Group). Such market-driven media outlets, controlled by #Washington, are anti-democratic, openly promoting war in #Afghanistan.@hmohib @NSCAfghan #FreePress
— Aimal Faizi (@AimalFaizi) October 4, 2018
Many others came out in support of the statement and thanked the NSC for the clarification.
Thanks ONSCafg for their resulute stand. This is in fact the heart voice of 30 million Afgans rifle handed. I believe Erick may know the cost of deadly game with fire.
— Abdul Rahman Hakimi (@hakimi_rahman) October 5, 2018
‘Under no circumstances’
The Afghanistan government also clarified that the war on terrorism is led — and will continue to be led — by Afghan national security and defence forces with the support of its international allies.
“Under no circumstances will the Afghan government and people allow the counterterrorism fight to become private, for-profit business. In no manner does the government of Afghanistan condone this destructive and divisive debate,” said the statement.
The government said that protection of Islamic values, their national way of life and their citizens are the government’s most sacred responsibility, which cannot and will not be outsourced to private business.
“We will not allow our struggle to be cheapened by the prospect of profits. The government of Afghanistan remains ste(a)dfast in its commitment to leading the fight against terrorism,” added the statement.
The proposal
Prince has been promoting the idea of privatisation of Afghan war by introducing contracted troops instead of foreign troops.
The plan was introduced last year while President Donald Trump was working on a strategy for Afghanistan, considering to beef up forces on Afghan land. Under the said proposal, retired Special Forces troops from the United States and allied nations would be placed with the Afghan forces that will replace US including NATO military advisers.
The Trump administration, however, shot down the plan which Prince shopped around in Kabul last month.
Also read: Trump shows interest in private firm’s idea of privatising the war in Afghanistan
Prince is a former US Navy SEAL. His sister, Betsy DeVos, serves as the Secretary of Education in the Trump administration.
Reports said Prince claims that the situation in Afghanistan could be changed within six months if his forces are introduced.
In 2007, several of his company contractors were convicted of killing 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad, for which four of them were convicted in a US court.
The war in Afghanistan is seventeen years old. Not going well, no end in sight. A fertile ground for such ideas to sprout like weeds. The entire focus, with help from Pakistan and a dialogue sans preconditions with the Taliban, should be on finding a graceful exit.