The Ministry of Interior on Saturday announced the appointment of 14 new provincial police chiefs and two senior police commanders for provinces, giving them five months to fight corruption, improve coordination with people and overcome insecurity - otherwise they will be removed from their posts.

Addressing a ceremony to introduce the new police chiefs, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said “negligence” will not be acceptable and that he wants to close the gap between government and people.

“There was inattention (by officials) in provinces and they did not have an accurate reporting system, there was corruption in logistics,” Barmak said. “The Ministry of Interior will have a proper follow-up on the issue.”

He said the police chiefs will have five months to bring seismic changes in their offices and activities. 

“The new police chiefs have been given three to five months to bring changes in terms of administration, fighting corruption and bringing people, government closer and improving security; otherwise, they will be sacked from their posts,” the minister added.

Corruption and existence of ghost soldiers in some provinces has been deemed as big challenges for the Ministry of Interior.

“I ask police chiefs and commanders to consider transparency in their services. There will be no more short-term contracted police force members in provinces as new chiefs were appointed as per direction of President (Ashraf Ghani) and Interior Minister (Wais Ahmad Barmak),” said Aminullah Karim, deputy minister of interior for administration.

At the same event, senior deputy minister of interior Gen. Murad Ali Murad called on the police chiefs to better use their experience in ensuring the safety of Afghan citizens.

“I urge the new police chiefs of provinces to use their past experiences and military skills to address people’s problems and prevent insurgent attacks,” Murad said.

A list shared by the Interior Ministry’s spokesman Najib Danish shows the newly-appointed officials as follows: 

•    Major Gen. Khalilullah as commander of Police 303 Zone 

•    Brigadier Gen. Raz Mohamamd as Commander of Police 808 Zone

•    Major Gen. Abdul Baqi Nurstani, as Kunduz Police Chief

•    Major Gen. Aminullah Amarkhail as Herat Police Chief

•    Brigadier Gen Akhtar Mohammad Nawrozi as Khost Police Chief 

•    Major Gen. Abdul Rahman Aqtash as Takhar Police Chief

•    Major Gen. Nabi Jan Mullakhail as Faryab Police Chief

•    Major Gen. Abdul Qayum Baqizoi as Sar-e-Pul Police Chief

•    Colonel Mohammada Abdali as Logar Police Chief

•    Colonel Abdul Rauf Uruzgani as Laghman Police chief 

•    Colonel Farid Mashal as Ghazni Police Chief

•    Colonel Sayed Abbas Sadat as Nuristan Police Chief 

•    Brigadier Gen. Mohammad Saber as Badakhshan Police Chief 

•    Major Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Ghafoori as Daikundi Police Chief

•    Ahmad Fahim Qayem as Badghis Police Chief

•    And Major Gen. Haqnawaz as Kunar Police Chief