PESHAWAR, July 16: Pakistan and Afghanistan are considering a plan to provide police training to Afghan nationals. Under the plan, around 200 Afghans will be initially recruited for basic training in the Police Academy in Hangu.

The training would cost about Rs35 million. "The US and Pakistan have shown interest in funding the training programme so as to help Afghanistan form its own police force," an official said on Friday.

According to the official, the Indian government had also shown interest in providing training to the Afghans, but after negotiations between the officials of Afghanistan and Pakistan it was decided that the NWFP and Balochistan were the suitable places for the training of Afghans.

"Most of the Afghans have agreed to come here for training due to the affinity in the cultures of Afghanistan and these provinces of Pakistan," an official, who had recently visited Afghanistan, said.

The first batch will comprise 200 youths. Each trainee will get Rs5,000 per month, and lodging and other services will be free for them at the academy. Details about who will pay the cost of the training are still to be worked out by the two governments.

"The foreign ministries of the two countries will prepare a criterion for those who are to be selected for the training," an official told Dawn. Youths are to be selected from all the provinces of Afghanistan on an equal representation basis.

"Afghanistan's foreign ministry will ensure that those who have alliance with anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan or have other political purposes will not be selected for the training to be imparted in Pakistan," an official said.

"During the training, emphasis will be laid on the tactics practised in the field, search and raids of offices and houses," an official at the Police Academy in Hangu said.