KABUL - Despite a focused effort to fight corruption in the security forces, new reports surface frequently about fraud or nepotism in the ranks of the army and police, the European Union (EU) said on Wednesday.
Often driven from the top, corruption hampered the effectiveness of the security forces, allowing the Taliban to draw strength on the battlefields, it said, claiming weapons and other supplies had been sold off to the insurgents.
"Peace in Afghanistan is possible. But to get there we need to see several things happen. Very important is that the Afghan security forces continue to improve their abilities to deny the Taliban major progress on the battlefield,” said the EU special representative.
Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin stressed the need for continued professionalisation of the security forces, especially focusing on better leadership. He also called for a reinforced fight against corruption in the army and police.
The EU in Afghanistan is set to launch the fourth and final theme of its 2017 anti-corruption campaign focused on corruption in the security sector.
Melbin said: "We want to highlights the huge problems in the security area, but we also want to showcase some of the good things that are actually happening.
“Because we do acknowledge that the Government, NATO's Resolute Support mission and other actors in the international community have helped Afghanistan make progress in this area. But we still need to see much more done and it needs to happen now.” (Pajhwok)