NSC wants special units merged into Afghan forces

KABUL): The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday decided to form a delegation that would formally ask US-led coalition forces for an end to operations by the special units they have created in different provinces of the country.

A meeting of the NSC, chaired by President Hamid Karzai, suggested that the coalition-backed special forces be merged into Afghan security forces. The participants also conferred on the overall national security environment.

A statement from the Presidential Palace said the council directed security personnel to put a halt to operations of the armed units that were acting outside ambit of the Afghan army.

Interior Minister Ghulam Mujtaba Patang presented to the meeting a report on disarming private security guards and irresponsible gunmen on the Herat-Kandahar highway in compliance with presidential orders.

The interior ministry was instructed to disarm private guards and irresponsible groups on all major highways across the country, the statement added.

Late on Saturday evening, President Karzai issued a decree ordering the prosecution of the government security forces involved in torturing prisoners. He said all future interrogations must be videotaped.

pr/mud