This is ridiculous. The Afghan government is out of control on this stuff. Look, there is a reason why a private security company is armed with AK 47’s in Afghanistan. Because there is a war going on. So in my view, contractors transporting weapons in the back of their car is not at all abnormal, and nor should it be construed as illegal. Especially if there was a valid explanation for them having the weapons in there in the first place. Here is the quote from the company:
GardaWorld, in a statement, said that it did not yet own the weapons and that its guards were taking them to a rifle range for testing. “The weapons in question were being taken to be tested at a firing range before being purchased and properly licensed by GardaWorld,” the company said, adding that in its discussions with the government it hoped to clear up what it implied was a misunderstanding and “rectify the situation as soon as possible.”
To test these weapons is perfectly understandable, seeing how functional weapons for a security operation is pretty damn important. Now maybe if Afghanistan actually had weapons vendor laws where the dealer actually had to be licensed and all of his weapons must be licensed with Afghanistan, then maybe these kinds of incidents would not happen?
The other thing about this is that this company was operating off of the latest set of rules and laws, or the last agreements and contracts signed. According to GardaWorld, that is what they are dealing with right now. Here is the quote:
The company said it had complied with all Afghan laws and regulations in its operations in the country, where it provides mobile escort guard services and protection for compounds and bases. It would not specify which compounds or bases it protected.
The Interior Ministry said that the company had contracts to work in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar and two other cities, and that GardaWorld was one of 46 security companies licensed to operate in Afghanistan until March 2012.
Also, GardaWorld is a Canadian company. Canada has certainly contributed much to this war, and they expended blood and treasure for the sake of Afghanistan. And this is how Afghanistan treats a Canadian company? Boy, if I was a businessman in Canada, I don’t think I would want to do business in an environment like that. The Canadian government should be furious that one of their companies is getting this kind of treatment.
I guess that is my point here. If Afghanistan is willing to do this to these businesses called PSC’s, then it is not a stretch to imagine Karzai and company doing the same to other businesses. In that kind of environment, I don’t know why anyone would want to put up with that. I guess if that is what Karzai wants, then that is what he will get. –Matt
Afghanistan Closes Firm Providing Security
By GRAHAM BOWLEY
January 5, 2012
The Afghan government said Thursday that it was shutting down the operations of one of the largest foreign security companies operating in the country after detaining two of its contractors on suspicion of gun smuggling.
After months of growing tension between the government and foreign security contractors, the decision marks a sharp escalation into public action by the Afghan authorities.
President Hamid Karzai is in the midst of replacing foreign security contractors with Afghan guards.
The Interior Ministry said it was immediately withdrawing the company’s license, although the company, GardaWorld, a private Canadian security outfit, said it was in discussions with the government and hoped to be able to continue to operate.
The Interior Ministry said that the contractors, two Britons, who were detained on Tuesday after being found with an arsenal of unlicensed AK-47 assault rifles in their sport utility vehicle, were among the 341 Afghan guards and 35 foreign contractors employed by GardaWorld in Afghanistan.