US Congress Concerned Over Private Security Firms in Afghanistan

A new report by US Congress said operational methods of private security firms in Afghanistan have decreased people's support of foreign troops.

The report also points out to cash payments of the companies to the Taliban to reduce the risks of attacks on the company staff.

Some Afghan parliamentarians find the concern of US Congress understandable and urge dissolution of the companies.

The number of staff working in private security firms has increased by three times in the past three years, it said.

There are around 19,000 people working in private security firms from which 95 percent are Afghans, one percent Americans and 4 other percent from other countries.

"Afghan government and people had called for disbandment of all private security firms before any concerns being raised by the US Congress," Sayed Anwar Sadat, an Afghan MP, said.

Most of the companies that provide security to US troops' logistic convoys pay the Taliban to reduce the risks of coming under attack, the report said.

President Karzai has planned to allow some private security contractors to continue operating in Afghanistan for another year, the Guardian reported.

Xe Services formerly known as Blackwater, despite being banned in Iraq and being notorious for its activities in Afghanistan, is still involved in big Afghan forces training projects in the country.

As the targeted date for withdrawal of foreign forces is looming, most of US citizens want the US troops out of Afghanistan over a year.

A new poll indicates that 73 percent of US Democrats weigh in on withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, while in Republicans the percentage is 37.