16.07.10
Pakistan’s Police between Centralization and Devolution
NUPI Report | Oslo, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs | 25 pages
This report examines the challenges faced by a proposed police-based counter-insurgency strategy for Pakistan by placing them in the context of the limitations faced by the police.
>> Summary
Civilianizing’ conflict resolution is a key concept in the West’s strategy in Afghanistan and the region. President Obama’s long-awaited review of the Afghanistan conflict proposed a ‘civilian surge’ for Afghanistan, and the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act – better known as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill – explicitly ties security aid to progress in emancipating Pakistan’s civilian government from military influence. A major aspect of this strategic reorientation has been a renewed focus on the role of the civilian police. This paper examines the challenges faced by a proposed police-based counter-insurgency strategy for Pakistan by placing them in the context of the limitations faced by the police. Historically, the ambit of policing has been limited, in terms of geographical reach as well as vertical penetration of local communities. A brief account of colonial mechanisms of governance and their effects on policing is provided, to highlight the pathdependencies
created by British indirect rule and divide-and-rule for modern Pakistan. Ignorance of the history of policing and of the political struggle over police control has led foreign donors to support attempts at centralizing security governance, worsening the state’s crisis of legitimacy and arguably heightening insecurity. The complex history of these failed attempts at governance reform shows how difficult it is to ignore the highly political nature of all such undertakings.
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