KABUL - The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday announced reducing budget for security of high profile figures from 3.2 billion afghanis to 1.6 billion afs.
First vice-president AmrullahSaleh had on August 20,2020 said that 4.2 billion afghanis was spent every year on security of prominent personalities.
Former vice-president Mohammad KarimKhalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Marshal Dostum, Mohammad YounisQanuni, several politicians and Jihadi leaders SalahuddinRabani, Sayed Hamid Gilani, Mohammad Mohaqiq and ZabihullahMujadidi in a letter had said that despite the increase in targeted killings in the country, the government has reduced the number of their bodyguards.
They warned the government would be responsible if they were attacked.
RahmatullahAndar, NSC spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “In the procedure, security threats are divided into three categories (high, medium and low level). According to these categories, the General Directorate of Security and protection (senior officials) have hired minimum three and maximum 300 persons for better security of senior officials.
He did not specify how many security personnel were currently deployed to protect key figures.
He said the department was not in a good position, considering its past performance.
According to Andar, high budget, organizational inflation, parallel activities, low quality of services and problems in recruitment are some of the problems plaguing the department.
However, he said the department was committed to enhancing professional capacity, technical and managerial aspects, removing ambiguities, preventing security problems, gaps, redefining duties and work directions, and recruiting young people in the administration. (Pajhwok)