Afghanistan has banned eight private security firms, including the company formerly known as Blackwater, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai told reporters Sunday.
Among the companies whose operations are being dissolved are Xe (formerly known as Blackwater), NCL, FHI, White Eagles and other small companies, spokesman Waheed Omer said. Both international and domestic companies were affected.
Weapons and ammunition belonging to these companies has been seized, he said.
Xe has several operations in Afghanistan, some of which will not be immediately affected by the decision. While Xe’s transportation and highway security operations have stopped, it will continue to offer security for embassies.
“Until we have Afghan security forces up and running, private security companies will continue to operate and serve in training and protection of foreign embassies,” Omer said.
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I do not know who the other companies were, but the quote up top listed a few. With Xe, I am thinking the company that was disbanded was Paravant, but I could be wrong on that. If anyone has further details about the disbanding of companies, feel free to comment below. If you are a small business owner or employee that will lose their job or business because of this, I definitely want to hear from you. –Matt
Afghanistan begins disbanding private security firms
8 private security firms banned in Afghanistan
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Afghanistan begins disbanding private security firms
By Sayed Salahuddin
Oct 3, 2010
Afghanistan has begun disbanding private security companies operating in the country, shutting down eight firms and seizing over 400 weapons, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
The move is part of President Hamid Karzai’s ambitious plan to take over all Afghan security responsibilities from foreign troops by 2014.
Since Karzai’s decree in August, a plan has been drawn up for the process which is expected to be complete by the end of the year, Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said. The United Nations and NATO-led International Security Assistance force had given it their support, he added.
“The interior ministry is implementing this plan with seriousness and decisiveness,” he told a regular briefing.
The first targets are illegal armed groups operating as private security firms, companies with temporary permits and those who provide security escorts for foreign forces and have been engaged in criminal acts and security breaches.
The government has already closed down an Afghan security firm with 75 employees, and several smaller groups which provided security escorts for convoys, Bashary said.