Afghan government rejects proposals by Blackwater founder to privatise training its armed forces

Erik Prince, who set up the private US military contractor, has been lobbying officials in Afghanistan for more than a year

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Members of the US private security company Blackwater patrolling over Baghdad. Photo: AFP Photo

Published: 9:45pm, 5 Oct 2018Updated: 9:58pm, 5 Oct 2018

Afghan officials have reacted angrily to speculation that foreign military contractors could take over training and advising the Afghan armed forces, following a renewed push by the founder of private military contractor Blackwater.

Erik Prince, whose company came to prominence during the war in Iraq, has been lobbying officials about his proposal to privatise parts of US military operations in Afghanistan for more than a year.

On a recent visit to Kabul, he lobbied several Afghan political figures and gave interviews to media outlets including Tolo News, Afghanistan’s largest television station, as well as The New York Times, to discuss the plan.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince. Photo: Bloomberg

President Ashraf Ghani, approaching presidential elections in April, has repeatedly rejected the proposal and on Thursday his national security adviser issued a statement condemning what he called a “destructive and divisive debate”.

“Under no circumstances will the Afghan government and people allow the counterterrorism fight to become a private, for-profit business,” the statement said.

Afghan government rejects proposals by Blackwater founder to privatise training its armed forces

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Erik Prince, who set up the private US military contractor, has been lobbying officials in Afghanistan for more than a year

Erik Prince, who set up the private US military contractor, has been lobbying officials in Afghanistan for more than a year