Introduction

The preceding chapter covered the practices, insights and causes of corruption, which now allows for a debate on anti-corruption strategies. The main section of this chapter covers precise procedures to curb corruption in the Afghan police. These include the MoIA internal anti-corruption strategy and vital problems with pay reform, meritocratic recruitment and stationing. Furthermore, problems with the drug trade are addressed with responses designed for law enforcement to engage in a drug interdiction strategy and to provide local forms of policing in villages.

Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs anti-corruption strategy

In order to curb corruption, in 2009, EUPOL's Anti-Corruption Implementation Plan – centred in Kabul – concentrated on capacity building, deterrence (including training) and the application of enforcement. This three-fold approach is a measure of the MoIA's National Police Strategy. First, building the capacity of the MoIA brings to the centre the formal institutional systems of merit-based appointments, procurement, accountability, the transparency of weapons and the exposure of personal assets. Moreover, a satisfactory police salary has been attempted to prevent corruption and entice high-quality applicants who will continue in their job roles. Second, prevention is to be heightened with the use of public awareness movements, specific specialised training and the execution of procedures to detect corrupt actions and curb corruption, narcotics and illicit AOG. Third, enforcement is directed by the MoIA through the Attorney General, Inspector General and MCTF to investigate accusations of corruption cases under the regulation of the AGO. The USA created the MCTF in November 2009, which has 200 agents to inspect the police regarding narcotics and terrorism problems. The MCTF is an entity that functions with the FBI, Scotland Yard and EU policing supervision to inspect and impeach prolific corruption cases, organised crime and kidnapping. Only some of the 50 structured interviewees in 2016 had knowledge of the MCTF as a measure for curbing corruption. Five of the respondents based at Kabul stated that the MoIA focused on supporting the MCTF as an anti-corruption measure. The lack of awareness of the MCTF to combat serious forms of corruption can be complemented with several other shortcomings. The MCTF still lacks independence and the skills to investigate senior-level crimes (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2018: 11).