The Federal Foreign Office is financing the construction of a new headquarters for the Afghan police force in the northern province of Badakshan to the tune of around 2.5 million euro. The foundation stone was laid today (13 May) by the German Ambassador in Afghanistan, Werner Hans Lauk, with the provincial governor also present.

The new HQ and the adjoining buildings are designed to accommodate up to 100 police officers. The construction work is due to be completed and the HQ opened in October 2009. The building project is being implemented by the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) with the cooperation of the German police project team while local building firms will be charged with the construction itself.

The police HQ in Feyzabad will create the basis for an effective and coherent command structure throughout the province and for training new units and officers. The Afghan police security forces are vital for the country's stabilization and development.

The new HQ represents a further contribution by the Federal Foreign Office towards improving police work in Badakshan Province. Germany is already leading the way in building up the Afghan police force, providing training, construction and equipment contributions. Alongside Feyzabad, Germany is engaged in further projects in Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz und Kabul. Moreover, several dozen German police experts are working as part of the bilateral police project team, as short-term trainers, as well as under the aegis of the European Police Mission EUPOL Afghanistan. The Federal Foreign Office will this year make available 35.7 million euro for police building support in Afghanistan.