- KABUL, Afghanistan: An Afghan Interior Ministry official says the government is determined to shut down all private security companies in the country and that 57 such firms have already been disbanded.
President Hamid Karzai said in August that all private security companies had to be shut down by Dec. 17, but a shortage of qualified police led to a deadline extension in several cases, such as for companies protecting development and aid projects or diplomatic sites.
Gen. Abdul Manan Farahi, who oversees security firms, said Tuesday that 57 private security companies have already been disbanded and more than 3,000 guards disarmed.
He said companies protecting aid and development projects and diplomatic missions would be able to continue operating but only inside the premises they are guarding.
