Afghan Commando Forces
The Afghan Commando Forces were the former combined commando, paratrooper and special formations of the Afghan Armed Forces, composed of numerous brigades, regiments and battalions established by King Mohammad Zahir Shah in 1964 and disbanded in 1992, following the collapse of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the events of the Afghan Civil War.[1][2]
Afghan Commando Forces | |
---|---|
regiment (1989) | |
Nickname(s) | “Champions” (شیرجنگ) “Heroes” (قهرمان) |
Colors | Maroon Sky Blue |
Engagements | See list
|
Decorations | Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (37th Commando Brigade) |
Aircraft flown | |
Helicopter | Mil Mi-17, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-6, Mil Mi-4 |
Transport | Antonov An-32, Antonov An-26, Antonov An-24, Antonov An-12 |
Commandos under the Kingdom of Afghanistan
The history of
During the summer of 1967, the 444th Commando Battalion was formed by
Uniform specifications
Under the reign of
Operations under the Kingdom of Afghanistan
On 24 May 1970, the first documented commando operation took place, involving the suppression of anti-government protests by the
- The activities of the PDPA and a publication of newspaper “Parcham” which celebrated the centenary for Vladimir Lenin’s birth
- “Anti-religious” films being shown on television about Prophet Yusuf
- Displays of caricatures of Prophet Mohammed and his number of marriages being quoted by foreign press outlets and the Afghan leftist “Esalat” newspaper (which is still in existence)
However, these facilitated protests turned into an anti-government rally, as the Islamic clergy criticized the government for not taking action against the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan and other leftist organisations, as well as accusing them of “subjecting Afghanistan to Western influence” and “undermining the Islamic values” of the country.[7]
Commandos under the Republic of Afghanistan
Between 1972 and 1973, the 455th Commando Battalion was being formed at Bala Hissar fortress as the Royal Afghan Army’s third elite formation.[1] Before the battalion could come to full strength, Daoud Khan successfully managed to depose Zahir Shah and the Afghan monarchy during the 1973 Afghan coup d'etat in 17 July.[8][9] Leftist junior officers of the 242nd Parachute Battalion offered their support to Republican elements taking part in the coup, with the 444th Commando Battalion being heavily involved. After the coup, Capt. Hashem Wardak was promoted to the rank of Major and given command of 242nd Para.[1]
After briefly being used as palace guards at the Arg Presidential Palace, the 444th Commando Battalion were moved to Jalalabad from Kabul, leaving the 455th Commando Battalion as the only formation in Bala Hissar fortress, under the command of Maj. Hashem Zadran. Between 1975–1977, under the presidency of Mohammed Daoud Khan, three more commando formations were established; the 466th Commando Battalion, 2nd Army Corps (Kandahar), the 666th Commando Battalion, 3rd Army Corps (Khost, Nadir Shah Kot) and a supposed 777th Commando Battalion stationed in Gardez, also under the control of the 3rd Army Corps.
Uniform specifications
In 1974, the Afghan commandos received the Italian M1929 Telo mimetico camouflage, produced locally from fabric printed within Afghanistan.[1][10][6] In the mid-1970s, the commandos additionally received a unique orange-green “splinter” camouflage manufactured in Afghanistan.[1]
Operations under the Republic of Afghanistan
On 17 July 1973, the 444th Commando Battalion would become the main striking force of Republican elements during the
In 1974, soldiers of the 444th Commando Battalion were sent to the city of
Commandos under the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
On 27 April 1978, armed forces units loyal to the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan deposed President Daoud Khan, overthrew the Republican government and established the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, during the Saur Revolution.[18][19][20]
The commando battalions would find themselves becoming the victims of in-fighting, as the 444th, 455th Commando Battalions and the 242nd Parachute Battalion fought amongst each other.[1][2] Communists within the 242nd Para neutralised the battalion to ensure soldiers didn't intervene on behalf of President Daoud Khan, meanwhile the Bala Hissar barracks were set on fire by the PDPA-affiliated rebels to distract and immobilise the 455th Commando Battalion.[1]
During the final hours of the coup, Lt. Imauddin, an officer of the 444th Commando Battalion, and Gul Aqa, chief of the Republican Guard Brigade, both ordered Daoud Khan to surrender. Daoud Khan refused and as a result, Imauddin shot him, although he was injured by a bullet fired by Daoud.
Directly after the coup, the 455th Commando and 242nd Para were combined into the 26th Airborne Regiment, stationed at Bala Hissar fortress.[1] A reorganisation and redesignation of the commando formations took place, still retaining their numerical designation. For example, the 444th Commando Battalion was now the 444th Commando Regiment.[1] As a result of the Khalq's disastrous social reforms, land reforms, political purges and their oppression of the Afghan population;[21][22] the Islamic clergy, regular civilians, Maoists and Parchamites, uprisings began in provinces such as Nuristan and Khost that the commandos would have to deal with, as well as seeing limited combat against the growing Mujahideen factions.[1]
Kerala Massacre (1979)
On 20 April 1979, the 444th Commando Regiment and the 11th Division of the Afghan Army committed the
Bala Hissar uprising
By mid-1979, anti-communist dissent was also starting to emerge within the Afghan Armed Forces, being evident through the defection of the 17th Division during the 1979 Herat uprising.[19][2][1] The 26th Airborne Regiment would prove to be politically unreliable as on 15 August 1979, the 26th Airborne and elements of the 444th Commando Regiment partook in the Maoist-led Bala Hissar uprising.[1][6][19][28] The commando mutineers clashed with pro-government forces within the 26th Airborne and 32nd Motorized Infantry Regiments inside the fortress.[1] The mutineers were met with ruthless air bombardment by the Khalq government's MiG aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter gunships (given by the USSR after the 1979 Herat uprising), tanks, AGSA intelligence officers and paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Interior.[19] The battle lasted for five hours, with the revolt being crushed and leaving 400 dead.[1] Tens of Maoist cadres and commando mutineers were arrested and executed in Pul-e Charkhi prison, such as Mohammed Daoud and Mohammed Mohsin.[29][30][31] After the uprising, the 444th, 455th and 466th Commando Regiments were converted into battalions once more, with the 444th Commando being moved from Kabul to Surobi and having their commander changed.[1]
On 8 October 1979,
As part of Baikal-79, a larger operation aimed at taking 20 key strongholds in and around Kabul, the Soviet 105th Airborne Division secured the city and disarmed Afghan Army units without facing opposition.[37] On 1 January 1980, Soviet paratroopers ordered the 26th Airborne Regiment in Bala Hissar to disarm, only for them to refuse and fire upon the Soviets as a firefight ensued. The Soviet paratroopers annihilated most of the regiment, with 700 Afghan paratroopers being killed or captured. In the aftermath of the battle, 26th Airborne Regiment was disbanded and later reorganised into the 37th Commando Brigade, led by Col. Shahnawaz Tanai, being the largest commando formation at a strength of three battalions.[1][19] As a result of the battle with the 26th Airborne Regiment, the Soviet 357th Guards Airborne Regiment were permanently stationed in Bala Hissar fortress, meaning this new brigade was stationed as Rishkhor Garrison. In the same year, the 81st Artillery Brigade was given airborne training and converted into the 38th Commando Brigade, stationed in Mahtab Qala (lit. Moonlit Fortress) garrison southwest of Kabul under the command of Brig. Tawab Khan.[1][12]
In 1980, there were also plans for three special forces battalions to be created in each of the army's corps, being officially deployed in 1981 as the:
- 203rd Special Purpose Battalion (1st Central Corps, Kabul)[19]
- 212th Special Purpose Battalion (3rd Army Corps, Gardez)[19]
- 230th Special Purpose Battalion (2nd Army Corps, Kandahar)[19]
The three battalions had numerous names, being referred to as “Separate Spetsnaz” and “Special Reconnaissance” in the works of Mark Urban and Ali Ahmad Jalali. They were commonly referred to as “SpN”, being an abbreviation for Spetsnaz and standing for “Special Purpose” (Russian: Специального назначения, Spetsial'nogo Naznacheniya)[38][39][40] as well as reconnaissance battalions.[19][12][41] They directly reported to the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Afghan Armed Forces, also known as KhAD-e-Nezami. The 203rd SpN notably took part in the Marmoul offensives and the Battles of Zhawar, whereas the 212th SpN took part in Operation Magistral.[41][7] Additional formations additionally included the 625th, 626th, 627th, 628th, 629th Operative Battalions, the 477th Commando Battalion in Gardez, the 886th Commando Battalion in Herat and the 665th Commando Battalion in Kandahar International Airport.
In the same year, the 37th Commando Brigade and the 666th Commando Regiment were brought into battle in Kandahar. There was additional information that a possible Afghan 344th Commando Battalion took part in “Operation Strike” with the Soviet 350th Guards Separate Parachute Battalion of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, although no Afghan battalion with such a designation could be found.[12]
In September 1982, the commando brigades saw heavy action in Panjshir against the Mujahideen fighters of Jamiat-e Islami. In 1982, the 38th Commando Brigade were additionally involved in a propaganda operation where members of Parcham were taken to the province to bring it back to “normality” after DRA and Soviet forces took the entire Panjshir Valley for the first time since 1978 in Operation Panjshir 2. On 16 June, the brigade additionally welcomed 820 inhabitants who were driven out by the fighting, which was also propagandized.[19] By 1983, the commando brigades were among the most reliable combat units at the disposal of the Afghan Army, seeing constant action but taking heavy casualties.[1][28] As early as 1980, the province of Khost was held by the mujahideen which led the 38th Commando Brigade to launch an attack, only to take numerous casualties and lose a battalion.[42][43] Despite Jamiat-e Islami claims to have wiped out the 8th Division and the 38th Commando in 1982, they returned to Panjshir in August, only 6–8 weeks later. In August 1983, the 37th Commando launched a successful air assault operation on Khost, additionally fighting in the province of Paktia. After their successes, they were airlifted into Kabul in October. In April 1984, a Soviet-Afghan task force; including the 37th Commando Brigade, launched Operation Panjshir 7. This task force moved into Panjshir and managed to clear several parts of the valley[19] from Jamiat-e Islami fighters for the first time since 1979. In August, the 38th Commando Brigade were ordered to break a siege in Ali Khel in Paktia, and the 444th Commando Battalion was conducting operations in Kunar Valley.[1] As of May 1984, the 444th Commando Battalion additionally operated in Panjshir under the 2nd Division, alongside two army brigades that were previously part of the 20th and 8th Divisions.[19]
In 1985, a Soviet shift towards small-unit tactics led to an increase in Afghan commando operations. This resulted in the 444th Commando Battalion suffering an 80% casualty rate while conducting spring offensives in Panjshir. In the same year, a Soviet-Afghan task force successfully broke a siege in Barikot, Kunar Valley and closed the Afghan-Pakistani border, although this led to 73 commandos being killed and 30 being captured. Although, not all operations led to success as the 38th Commando Brigade were forced to retreat from Peshgur, Panjshir. The 37th Commando Brigade was sent to reinforce Khost in July. In the same year, in 1985, Afghan commandos received Bulgarian camouflage.[1] During this period, one portrait photograph suggests the commandos also wore light green berets, although only a single image depicts this. The commandos additionally had their own flag, being in a sky blue colour and featuring iconography of a parachute.[44]
First and Second Battles of Zhawar
In September 1985, the 12th Infantry Division and elements from the 37th and 38th Commando Brigades moved from Gardez to Khost in order to capture Zhawar, a Mujahideen logistics transfer base in Paktia built using bulldozers and explosives.[41] The attack force paired with the 25th Infantry Division, already stationed in Khost, with Shahnawaz Tanai commanding this joint force, being from the neighbouring town of Tani and enjoying popular support in the area. The DRA force launched an attack on Bori, supported by artillery fire and air strikes from the Afghan Air Force. The Mujahideen force in Zhawar were underprepared as most of its major commanders, including Jalaluddin Haqqani, were in Saudi Arabia, Mecca performing the Hajj Islamic pilgrimage.[41] The joint force managed to successfully capture Bori, advancing into Zhawar. The Mujahideen, however, led a successful counterattack and blocked the ridge on the eastern slope of the Moghulgai mountains. During the fighting, the DRA force lost two APCs and four trucks, withdrawing and returning to Khost to possibly perform reconnaissance. Kochi nomads and Gorbez mujahideen also recaptured Bori. The DRA task force, along with the two commando brigades, captured the town of Lezhi and managed to kill Commander Mawlawi Ahmad Gul. The Mujahideen in Lezhi retreated south as a 20-man unit blocked the Manay Kandow pass. The DRA forces spent 10 days trying to break through, to no avail, despite the use of air strikes and artillery barrages. The DRA forces then called in air strikes from both the Afghan Air Force and the Soviet Air Forces, leading the mujahideen to retreat on 14 September 1985. The joint force established observation posts and then took control of Tor Kamar, becoming careless as they assumed the mujahideen didn't have any heavy weaponry. Two defected tank commanders then fired upon an artillery spotting observation post, sending soldiers flying, using a T-55. The tankers then fired upon other DRA soldiers, including the 37th and 38th Commando Brigades as they withdrew. After 42 days of fighting, Shahnawaz Tanai broke contact and planned to withdraw his joint attack force at night. The First Battle of Zhawar concluded with a victory for the mujahideen.[41][1]
A year later, in 1986, the Afghan
Pakistani officers were additionally sent to Zhawar and attempted to take down Afghan and Soviet aircraft with English blowpipes to no avail, as one Pakistani officer and his NCO were injured as a result of the aerial bombardment.[41] The operation additionally saw the involvement of 100 Pakistani Special Service Group (SSG) operatives and Arab mujahideen volunteers.[45]
On 17 April 1986, a DRA force moved towards Moghulgai mountain, leading to the Mujahideen fleeing without engaging. News soon spread that Jalaluddin Haqqani was wounded by the aerial bombardment, and rumours circulated that Haqqani was killed.[41] As a result, the Mujahideen abandoned Zhawar and on 19 April 1986, DRA and Soviet forces entered the area. Nabi Azimi then issued orders to arrest the helicopter regiment commander due to the botched landing, with other pilots claiming that he was in hiding and that he explicitly told them to land where they did. The joint DRA-Soviet forces began to destroy the caves of Zhawar, using sappers. They then planted seismic mines and PFM-1 mines in the area before leaving, having only stayed in Zhawar for five hours, and the traps were triggered a day later by the Mujahideen who returned to Zhawar.
The
During the celebration of Afghan Independence Day on 19 August 1986, after celebrating the DRA-Soviet victory in the Second Battle of Zhawar a few months prior, Defense Minister Lt.Gen. Nazar Mohammed gave the nickname “hero” to the 37th Commando Battalion for entering the caves of Zhawar,[41] 322nd Fighter Aviation Regiment and the 2nd Border Brigade, awarding them with the “Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan” medal. Out of the first four Afghans who were awarded this medal, two of them were commandos: Lt.Col Faiz Mohammed (posthumously) and Lt. Juma Khan from the 37th “Hero” Commando Battalion.[12]
Formerly a sergeant, Lt. Juma Khan received his first officer rank for numerous combat distinctions, similar to many other Afghan platoon or company commanders who not only lacked specialist training but also secondary level education. However, the number of officers who managed to complete a brief training course increased and 10-15 graduates of the military university joined the commando forces annually.
The Commando Brigades were, in contrast, considered reliable and were used as mobile strike forces until they sustained excessive casualties. Insurgents ambushed and inflicted heavy casualties on the 37th Commando Brigade during the
Annually, the commandos lost around 10% of their personnel due to the sheer number of combat operations they had to undertake, with two-thirds of this percentage also being deserters or captured commandos. Despite this, they were the most formidable and combat-ready force at the disposal of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. In 1988, the 37th Commando Battalion and the three SpN battalions only had a one-week break between combat operations. Nevertheless, recruits for the Afghan Commando Forces still displayed eagerness to join, wanting to receive jump wings and a maroon beret.[12] Afghan commandos were taught the Soviet martial art of ARB and a select few paratroopers of the 37th Commando Brigade were taught how to use Nunchaku by the Soviet Airborne Forces.[48]
In the same year, the “Airborne Assault Commando Troops” were disbanded due to the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and due to a shortage of forces defending cities such as Jalalabad, Khost, Kandahar, Herat and many others. All commando battalions and regiments were placed under the control of the commanders of the three army corps. Despite this, Afghan commandos still wore their jump wings and their commando formation insignia on their right shoulder, which was later carried over to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.[12][1]
In 1988, the Afghan National Guard (‘Gard-e-Mili’, previously referred to as the Afghan Special Guard ‘Gard-e-Khas’ and Guards Corps) was formed, with the 37th and 38th Commando Battalions being assigned to it.[19] However, according to Conboy, both battalions retained their independence and did not become part of the Afghan National Guard, being moved to Bala Hissar fortress.[1] The 37th and 38th Commando were later reconverted into brigades and remained in a reserve capacity, ensuring that they could be rapidly deployed to address any situations and in 1989, during the Battle of Jalalabad, the 37th and 38th Commando Battalions were present during the defence of the city against ISI-supported Mujahideen forces.[49][50][51][52]
In 1990, Defense Minister Shahnawaz Tanai utilised a single battalion of the 37th Commando Brigade, with the other two battalions being deployed to Jalalabad during the 1990 Afghan coup attempt.[1][2][12] The coup attempt failed, being thwarted by the Afghan National Guard led by Gen. Khushal Peroz, military university students, the Afghan Army’s 10th Division, 717th Civil Disciplinary Regiment, the Sarandoy’s 8th Gendarme Brigade, and WAD’s 1st and 5th Directorates.[2] In 1991, the 666th “Air Assault” Commando Regiment was decimated by the Mujahideen during the Siege of Khost, and in April 1992, the Afghan government collapsed. Information about what happened to other commando and special formations is unavailable, however, they were not listed among the formations under the control of the Mujahideen in the spring of 1992. According to rumours, Shahnawaz Tanai managed to recruit commando officers into the ranks of the Taliban, in which they fought the Mujahideen from 1994 to 1996.[12]
Afghan parachutist badges
Parachutist badges of the Afghan commando battalions
The Afghan commando forces had four classes of parachutist badges worn on the chest, usually with a red, blue or black felt behind the badge, although it was sometimes worn without any felt.[1] Out of the four classes, three of them have stars which indicate the experience of the paratrooper donning them on their uniform, such as:
- First-class badge (three stars, equivalent to Master Paratrooper)[6][53][54]
- Second-class badge (two stars, awarded for several dozen jumps in a combat situation)[53][54]
- Third-class badge (one star, awarded for jumps in a combat situation)[54]
- Fourth-class badge (no star, given to new paratrooper recruits)
The concept of the paratrooper badges have remained unchanged ever since their inception under the Afghan monarchy, although there have been multiple variants of these badges that are designated by “series” or by “type”. There are three series of these parachutist badges, such as:
- Type 1
- The first design of the Afghan parachutist badge under the Kingdom of Afghanistan, being of very poor quality
- Type 2
- The second design of the Afghan parachutist badge, being a smaller size with a light metal construction and a “gold” colour, although there is a silver grey variant. The wings are straight, appearing to be flying upwards sharply
- Type 3
- The third design of the Afghan parachutist badge, having rounded and curved wings on each side and being silver
Former paratroopers could still be seen wearing their parachutist badges under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, such as Khatool Mohammadzai, Sher Mohammad Karimi and Abdul Rashid Dostum, who wears two parachutist badges.[1][55][56]
Units
Kingdom of Afghanistan
- 242nd Parachute Battalion (Sherpur District, Kabul)[1][19]
- 444th Commando Brigade (Sherpur District, Kabul)[1][2]
- 455th Commando Brigade[1]
Republic of Afghanistan
- 466th Commando Brigade (2nd Army Corps, Kandahar)[1]
- 666th Commando Brigade (3rd Army Corps, Khost)[1]
- 777th Commando Brigade (Paktia)[1]
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
- 26th Airborne Regiment (Bala-e-Hissar fort) (1978–1979)[1][12]
- 37th “Hero” Commando Battalion (Kabul, Panjshir in 1983)[1][41]
- 38th Commando Battalion (Parwan)[41][1]
- 84th Commando Battalion (formed in 1987)[12]
- 85th Commando Battalion (formed in 1987)[12]
- 200th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 201st Commando Battalion
- 344th Commando Battalion (in 1980)
- 444th Commando Brigade (stationed in Panjshir in 1983)[1][43][19]
- 466th Commando Battalion (Kandahar) (non-divisional)[19]
- 477th Commando Battalion (in existence according to the CIA)[43]
- 665th Commando Battalion (Kandahar International Airport)
- 666th “Air Assault” Commando Regiment (Paktia, 1986)
- 866th Commando Battalion (Herat)
- 625th Operative Battalion
- 626th Operative Battalion
- 627th Operative Battalion
- 628th Operative Battalion
- 629th Operative Battalion
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