Afghanistan's Neighbours Seek to Disrupt Development Projects, APPF Chief Says

Afghanistan's neighbours are using their intelligence agencies to disrupt major development projects in the country in order to hamper economic growth, General Mujtaba Patang, deputy minister for the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) at the Ministry of Interior, said on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, spy agencies in neighbouring countries are trying to disturb major projects in our country by sending gorilla warriors and other insurgents to launch small and big attacks [to prevent progress]. This is particularly the case for the Aynak copper mine which is one of the biggest projects in Afghanistan,"General Patang said.

As many 8,000 police officers from the APPF have deployed to major sites including the Salma and Kamal Khan power plants, the Aynak copper mine, oil and gas projects in Mazar-e Sharif, and other major projects run by national and international organisations.

Since it was created in 2009, a total of 16 private security companies have been dissolved and their responsibilities transferred to the APPF.

Another 13 security companies will be dissolved in the near future, General Patang said. The department had a budget of $50 million for the past six months.

"We first monitor the security situation in those places where we want to deploy soldiers in order to guarantee their safety and efficiency in protecting the projects or organisations," General Pantang said.

The APPF currently has 30,000 policemen working for it. This number is expected to increase to 100,000 after 2014.