Afghanistan Public Protection Force

Deliver world-class security services to domestic and international customers in order to promote peace, prosperity and economic development for the people of Afghanistan

Our Values

Honor
Service
Professionalism
Transparency
Integrity
Respect
Pride
Excellence

Our Strategic Objectives

Execute transition of development site and convoy security from private security companies to the APPF by March 20, 2012
Execute transition of ISAF fixed site and construction security from private security companies to the APPF by March 20, 2013
Build APPF business capabilities in order to manage complex business operations unassisted by October 2013
Build APPF force generation capabilities in order to support new and existing security requirements unassisted by October 2013
Build APPF operational and command and control capabilities in order to manage complex security operations unassisted by October 2013
Build APPF support capabilities in order to sustain APPF operations unassisted byOctober 2013.

What is the Afghan Public Protection Force?

The Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) is a pay-for-service Afghan government security service provider underneath the Ministry of Interior that protects people, infrastructure, facilities, construction projects and convoys. It is organized as a State Owned Enterprise (SOE) in order to be able to contract with domestic and international customers for security services. APPF guards are not members of the Afghan National Army or Police and they have no mandate to investigate crimes or arrest suspects. The APPF was established in 2009 in order to allow Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) to focus more on traditional law enforcement tasks. The APPF today has about 6,000 guards who provide security for international, government and non-governmental entities, sites and facilities.

Organization

The APPF is headquartered in Kabul with eight regional zone headquarters in Herat, Shamshad, Mazara, Kunduz City, Kandahar, Gardez, Helmand City, and Jalalabad City. Within the main headquarters, the APPF is led by Deputy Minister JemalSidiqi who also serves as chairman of the APPF SOE Executive Board. He has two deputies, Brigadier General Sardar Mohammed Sultani, Director of Operations, and MrNoorkhanHaidari, Director of Business Operations. The Headquarters staff will grow in 2012 as the APPF increases its capability to execute command and control of guard forces around the country and interface with customers who need to contract with the APPF for security services. The APPF operates a Training Center in Kabul’s Bagrami district that trains guards in static and convoy security programs of instruction.

Presidential Decree 62 and the APPF

In August 2010, President Karzai issued Presidential Decree 62 (PD 62) ordering the disbandment of all private security companies (PSCs). The APPF was identified to take over the work that PSCs had been doing. In order to provide more time to plan and execute the transition, the Bridging Strategy for PD 62 was signed in March 2011, provided an additional year for PSCs to operate and for the APPF to develop its business and operational capabilities. As laid out in the Bridging Strategy, all development fixed site security, all convoy security, and all commercial security will transition to APPF by 20 Mar 12. ISAF bases, construction projects and fixed site security must transition by 20 Mar 2013. Embassies and entities with diplomatic status are exempt under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and thus authorized to continue using private security indefinitely.

Transition

Successful transition of security services from private security companies to the APPF will help ensure the continuity of billions of dollars of international community development projects and will enable jobs for thousands of Afghans. Between now and March 20, 2012, the APPF is focused on three major transition tasks:

1) Transferring guards from Private Security Companies (PSCs) to the APPF: the success of the transition from PSCs to the APPF by March 20, 2012, relies heavily on leveraging existing capacity within private security companies. Current PSC guards whose employment will be terminated as a result of the transition are encouraged to transfer to the APPF, where they will receive salaries commensurate with their current pay as well as benefits. The APPF seeks to transition about 11,000 guards from PSCs by March 20, 2012 and an estimated 13,000 more by March 2013.

2) Establishing new contracts with customers for security services: Companies who currently use private security to guard their personnel, sites, and convoys will need to contract with the APPF before March 20, 2012 in order to ensure uninterrupted security for their activities.

3) Issuing licenses to qualified Risk Management Companies: In an effort to mitigate APPF capability shortfalls, President Karzai approved the use of Risk Management Consultants (RMCs). RMCs provide advisory services to customers pertaining to the management of static, convoy, and personal security for individuals, private, governmental, non-governmental organizations. RMCs will also provide on-site mentoring and training to APPF guard forces as the APPF continues to develop full capability.

For more information about transition, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website.