Local Security in Afghanistan: Case Studies of Afghan Local Police, Arbakai, Peruvian Rondas Campesinas, Indian Territorial Army, Critical Lessons About Incorporating Traditional Governance and Force

This excellent late 2018 report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This thesis seeks to determine how the United States should facilitate and advise the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) regarding local Afghan security forces. Through in-depth analysis of relevant case studies (Afghan Local Police, Indian Territorial Army, Peruvian Rondas Campesinas, Afghan arbakai), this thesis gleans critical lessons, positive and negative, to inform the development of an appropriate local security program for modern-day Afghan society. Given Afghanistan's tribal nature, challenging geography, and the inability of GIRoA to secure its population with national forces, there is a need for effective local security elements that can protect their communities without challenging the survival of the central government. When developing local security elements, GIRoA should incorporate traditional governance, establish an appropriate link between local security elements and the military, and adapt force structures to judiciously selected areas. Additionally, GIRoA should create training and employment regimens for local security elements that preserve their intended use as small, defensive forces and impose minimal disruption to community life.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

I. Introduction * A. Background of the Problem * B. Research Question * C. Methodology * D. Chapter Overviews and Findings * 1. Literature Review—Militias and Local Security in Afghanistan * 2. Case Study—Afghan Local Police * 3. Case Study—Indian Territorial Army * 4. Case Study—Peruvian Rondas Campesinas * 5. Case Study—Afghan arbakai * 6. Conclusion and Recommendations * II. Literature Review—Militias and Local Security in Afghanistan * III. Case Study—Afghan Local Police * A. History * B. Security/Effectiveness * C. Popular Support * D. Sustainability * E. Government Control * F. Criminal Activity * G. Lessons Learned * IV. Case Study—Indian Territorial Army * A. History * B. Security/Effectiveness * C. Popular Support * D. Sustainability * E. Government Control * F. Criminal Activity * G. Lessons Learned * V. Case Study—Peruvian Rondas Campesinas * A. History * B. Security/Effectiveness * C. Popular Support * D. Sustainability * E. Government Control * F. Criminal Activity * G. Lessons Learned * VI. Case Study—Afghan arbakai * A. History * B. Security/Effectiveness * C. Popular Support * D. Sustainability * E. Government Control * F. Criminal Activity * G. Lessons Learned * VII. Conclusion and Recommendations * A. Principles for Local Security * B. U.S. Military's Role

When the United States intervened in Afghanistan in 2001, it did so in the middle of a civil war between tribal militias led by regional powerbrokers and the Taliban, which brutally sought to maintain strict control over the Afghan people. Following the rapid toppling of the Taliban by a small contingent of American Special Forces and intelligence operatives partnered with Afghan guerrilla elements, the United States, NATO, and the United Nations assisted in the establishment of a transitional central government. Potentially counter to the tribal nature of Afghan society, the United States and its allies shaped the fledgling Afghan government and its security forces into organizations resembling its own composition. After seventeen years of sustained combat, the United States continues to commit troops and resources in an ongoing effort to achieve a stable Afghanistan free of insurgent and terror organizations.