Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai issued a decree Tuesday disbanding all private security firms within four months.
The decree involves international and national private security companies. The security employees of those companies will be eligible to join the Afghan National Police, and may bring their weapons.
"In order to protect Afghan life and property, avoid corruption, security irregularities and the misuse of military weapons, ammunition and uniforms by the private security companies which have caused tragic incidents, and after the required assessment, I approve shutting down all private security companies within four months, including both domestic and foreign," the decree said.
"Employees of private security companies who wish to, and are eligible, can join the ANP with their weapons and ammunition or without," it added. "After they register with the ANP, the Ministry of Interior must commence the process of shutting down private security companies".
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman called the four-month timeline set by Karzai "very challenging".
Whitman said the Pentagon and Afghan government share the goal of eliminating all private security contractors, but he questioned if it could happen so quickly. CNN
