| Armed Police Force of Nepal | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2001-present |
| Country | Nepal |
| Branch | Military |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Role | Law and Order and Counter-terrorism |
| Size | 40,000 |
| Part of | Military Police |
Contents |
The Armed Police Force (APF) of Nepal is a paramilitary force with the basic roles of catalyst in maintaining law and order and containing insurgency cracking down terrorist activities. Its foundation is similar to the paramilitary force. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enrollment is 18 years. It started with 15 thousand strong force carved jointly out of police and army personnel. the strength by end of 2010 is expected to be 40,000.
For centuries, Nepal has been known as the abode of peace and tranquility. However in February 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) operating as the United People's Front of Nepal declared of the so called "People's War". The acts of terrorism and associated trend of organized crimes seemed escalating within the kingdom and in response to cope the situation with the then His Majesty's Government of Nepal felt need for an elite force. As such, the consequence on the recommendations made thereby the Armed Police Force Establishment Suggestion Task Force, Armed Police Force was founded on the 24th of October 2001. Late Krishna Mohan Shrestha from Nepal Police then Additional Inspector General of Police being promoted to Inspector General of Armed Police Force was the first Chief.
The current command and control organization of Nepal's army is set forth in the 1990 Constitution and the interim constitution. Inspector General is the Chief of Armed Police Force, at par the status to three stars Lieutenant General of Nepal Army.
The fundamental ethos of the APF is Any Task, Any Time, Any Place
To serve the country of its nationality, sovereignty and integrity by maintaining of peace and safeguarding the fundamental rights of all the countrymen and citizens of Nepal.
In November 2001, the Nepalese armed forces began military operations against the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). And Armed Police Force has involved in this operations with the birth of is organization alongside with Nepal Army.
Allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses have been leveled by the media against members of the Armed Police Force.
See article Nepalese Civil War
Armed Police Force takes pride in contributing its soldiers in peacekeeping efforts under the coveted blue flag of the United Nations for global peace and security as a whole. Armed Police force involved UN Peace keepings missions are now 32 and more than 2000 armed police force personal has contribute on the mission.
Also the APF has its remarkable contributions with advisers, trainers, monitors and in contingents of FPUs in missions like Iraq (UNGCI), Kosovo (UNMIK), Liberia (UNMIL, Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Haiti (MINISTAH) and Sudan (UNMIS). APF has two Formed APF Units each of 120 personnel in Liberia (UNMIL) since Dec. 2003.
Weapons
| Manufacturer | Type | Number | Origins | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colt's Manufacturing Company | M4 carbine | 4000 | United States | Used by Special Units & Rangers |
| Izhmash | AK-47 | 18,000 | Russia | Will be used for Border Patrol duties & Airport Security |
| Enfield | L1A1 SLR | 60,000 | United Kingdom | Standard issue rifle |
| H&K | MP5 | 5000 | United States | Used by Special Force and other Special Units |
| Sterling Armaments Company | Sterling submachine gun | 15,000 | United Kingdom | Some procured and some transferred from Army |
| Indian State Ordnance Factory Board | INSAS | 37,000 | India | INSAS rifles will replace SLRs as standard issue rifle. |
| Bren light machine gun | 1000 | United Kingdom | ||
| Colt's Manufacturing Company | M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System | 2000 | United States | Used by Special Force |
Vehicles
| Manufacturer | Type | Number | Origins | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Motors | Telcoline Pick Up Truck | 100 | India | LMGs mounted on top |
| Tata Motors | LPTA 1615 TC (4x4) light truck | 400 | India | |
| Mahindra & Mahindra | Mahindra | 130 | India | |
| Tata Motors | TataMobile Low/High Pick Up Truck | 240 | India | Widely used vehicle for patrol duties |
| Toyota Motors | Land Cruiser | 80 | Japan | |
| Toyota Motors | Land Cruiser Prado | 100 | Japan | |
| Toyota Motors | Hilux | 150 | Japan | LMGs mounted on top |
This article contains material from the official website of Armed Police Force of Nepal