Policing is a difficult job in any part of the world and it’s one that has a host of dangerous which can increase or decrease in different parts of the world. Afghanistan has been known as a country at war since the 80s and it can be best described as an extremely hostile area. With decades of Taliban rule and various cultural issues that prevent women from having many rights it’s hard to imagine there would be many female police officers if any at all.
But I’m here to tell you, there is a female police force in Afghanistan and boy are they ballsy. You can imagine that in a place like Afghanistan, your typical police officer is going to face many challenges and hazards. Now imagine, being a female police officer, in a country where Taliban still have a strong foothold and promote ideology that does not allow for females to hold positions of any power. Not only are these females facing the typical dangers of policing, but they also face policing in a warzone where various criminal elements are heavily armed and operating. They are also facing daily attacks from Taliban fighters who do not want to see females wearing a police uniform.
But many of them do, approximately 500 females are currently active duty police officers in Afghanistan. They are all integrated into the Afghan National Police and share duties with their fellow male counterparts, who number around 92,500. This starts with the Afghan version of a police academy which don’t appear to be segregated although at a classroom level they cadets are split by gender. Just like the male counterparts, the females are training on firearms and defensive tactics as well as the book material. While none of this should be surprising considering we are living in the 21st century, here we are. Again, to really understand why this is surprising you have to know how delicate the situation is in Afghanistan. Recently, RT or Russia Times, complied a documentary on theses brave female officers which can be viewed here:
There is still work to be done to integrate females further into the police force but it is great to see work is being done. These brave women are the trailblazers who are clearing the path and kicking ass while doing so. Many of them are inspired by Malalai Kakar, the first female police officer who joined the police force in 1982. Kakar came from a family of police officers and followed the footsteps of her father and brothers. She became the first female to graduate the Kandahar Police Academy and was also the first to become an investigator (detective) in the Kandahar Police force. When the Taliban seized power she had to stop working but resumed her duties in 2001 after the ousting of the Taliban. She was an inspiration for other females looking to step into policing or even a role of social justice within Afghanistan. Kakar rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel until September 28th, 2008 when she was assassinated by the Taliban gunman who shot her as she got into her car outside her house. The Taliban had hoped to send a message to the female population and prevent females from joining the Afghan National Police or local police forces, but they did the opposite. Instead, females in Afghanistan continue to rise up and step up to the plate to fulfill their country’s duties as police officers.
Smooth