Schily Praises German Police in Afghanistan

German Interior Minister Otto Schily praised the contribution of German police to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, and has promised an additional €60 million ($57 million) in funds from Germany over the next four years. German police are helping to create an Afghan police force so that Afghans can take security matters into their own hands. During a visit to the project's headquarters in Kabul, Schily told the Germans that their efforts were gaining international recognition. The German police, he said, were seen to be acting in the interest of the Afghan population, not as instruments of oppression. Before traveling to Afghanistan, Schily headed a two-day conference on Afghan reconstruction in Doha, attended by representatives from 26 states and organizations. In total, donors pledged $350 million to expand and train the Afghan security forces.