IEA establishes female police unit

The Ministry of Interior announced Tuesday that it has formed a 100-member female police unit that will work within the framework of the security and public order department of the ministry.

Officials have said one of the key objectives of this unit is to manage demonstrations and protests.

These policewomen have completed a training course at the Kabul Police Training Center and some said “they will put what they have learned into practice.”

According to the women, they learned new skills during training, including self-defense skills.

The women also said they want former police women to return to their old jobs.

“My request to those who were policewomen and have now gone is that everyone should return, serve their people and country and there is no threat or pressure towards them,” said Zahra, a policewoman.

“We learned many skills and we can defend ourselves and we can use our training while doing our duty,” said Khadija, another policewoman.

A number of military experts have said there is a serious need for policewomen to be included in security institutions, especially within the interior ministry.

Some experts have also said that strides have been made in the past year to establish all three security institutions and that going forward this will lead to stable security in the country.