Reforms do not mean downsizing, says Barmak

KABUL (Pajhwok): Thirty-six senior police officers graduated from a management and leadership training in capital Kabul on Thursday.

Some police officers, who attended the graduation ceremony, criticized reducing the retirement age for police, but the acting interior minister said the retirement age had no problem.

Of the 36 graduates, 22 were police generals and the rest were low ranking officers.

Acting interior minister, Wais Ahmad Barmak, told the graduation ceremony that despite having much experience, the training participants needed to be updated on new developments and initiatives in the world.

He said he had the plan to bring about comprehensive reforms to the Ministry of Interior and make effective programs for capacity building of ministry officials.

“Reform is a process in which training and professionalism is paid more attention, it does not mean removing someone from his position,” Barmak said.

The government is reportedly working on a plan to lower the retirement age for police officers and military generals, but no details about it have so far shared with the media.

Brig. Gen. Sayed Jalal Jalal, acting head of police higher education department at MoI, talking on behalf of the graduates, said they received essential training in making plans and policies as well as management and politics.

He expressed concern over a possible cut in the retirement age and said: “There are rumors that some circles inside the government want to remove figures of People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan from armed forces to replace them with inexperienced youth who could be used for personal interests.”

However, the interior minister said the Ministry of Defense was working to amend its personnel law and the MoI would maintain accuracy when the issue was referred to it for discussion.

 “No one wants and it is intolerable to create a vacuum in the armed forces,” Barmak said, adding there was no problem in the retirement age and MoI officials should avoid statements that could hurt the morale of other officers.

mds/ma

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