The police force was destroyed by years of war

The human rights body says the country's police force is not only unable to protect people's rights, but is guilty of violating them.

In a highly critical report launched in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Amnesty said that after more than two decades of conflict, Afghanistan's police force, prison system and courts had been almost completely destroyed.

The Afghan authorities have described the report as inaccurate.

"There are three million people living in Kabul, a city designed for one million - so of course there are crimes," General Basir Salangy, chief of the city's security, told the BBC.

"But we solve these problems according to the law."

He said 95% of officers under his command were professionals who had been to police academy.

Uphill struggle

Amnesty says it found evidence of torture and ill-treatment by the police.

The police force, prison system and courts in Afghanistan... offer virtually no protection to the Afghan people Amnesty International

"Not only are police unable to guarantee the protection of human rights in Afghanistan, some members of the police are themselves involved in committing human rights violations," its report says.

It notes the absence of any accountability and says police corruption is becoming increasingly widespread.

One example referred to police in a northern province where they were said to be visibly extorting "donations" at checkpoints.

But the report also makes clear that the police face a combination of problems which leaves them ill-equipped to do their job in a way that respects human rights.

• There is a basic lack of resources
• Salaries are left unpaid or are so low that officers cannot support their families
• Inadequate funding even means some police stations do not have pens and paper.

'Not neutral'

The BBC's Catherine Davis in Kabul says a general lack of faith in the police is noticeable on the streets of Afghanistan.

Many ordinary Afghans do not see the police as a neutral force to which they can go for help.

Police personnel are often former mujahideen fighters. They have extensive military experience but little or no professional police training.

Another concern is that the force is not yet fully representative of the country's different ethnic groups.

There are some 50,000 police in Afghanistan. The German Government is taking the lead in assisting and training the force.

But our correspondent says all this will take time, and change is needed now.