ISLAMABAD, 2 July 2005 — The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is training Pakistani agencies to help them protect the country’s VIPs receiving life threats from militants since the country joined the US-led war on terror.
Although different courses are in progress in the National Police Academy, the training is largely being imparted to police officials in Sihala Police College where more than 22 groups so far have passed out.
To ensure protection of VIPs, the FBI is helping Pakistan to constitute two wings in security departments — Crisis Response Team and Cobra Protection Force.
FBI’s senior official Dale Liverty based in the US Embassy, is the program manager of these courses, sources said. Apart from training courses, Dale Liverty also helps the country’s security agencies in different operations conducted to hunt terrorists hidiing in various parts of Pakistan.
The courses range from community policing, crime scene management, professional standards and cyber crimes, but the main focus of the training is the subjects related to the security of top leaders, sources said.
The major focus of training is on crisis response strategies and cobra action.
According to the sources, the trainees are instructed different ways to deal with the hostage crisis in case any government dignitary is held hostage by terrorists while they are in a public gathering or travel outside their offices. The relevant courses are about defensive and offensive firing to save VIPs.
Likewise, they are also being imparted training about the defensive and offensive driving at time of crisis apart from various techniques as to how to escort the dignitaries into nearby buildings and jamming the communication system of terrorists during these operations in order to halt their activities. Theobra courses, for which the best available lot of the officials is selected, are relatively consist of more advanced training.
“This course requires the most vigilant and physically extra fit men,” the sources said.
