Afghan Commando Forces
editThe Afghan Commando Forces were the combined special forces units of the Afghan Armed Forces, comprised of numerous brigades, regiments and battalions established by King Mohammad Zahir Shah in 1965 and disbanded in 1992, following the collapse of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan Civil War.[1]
| Afghan Commando Forces | |
|---|---|
| Persian: نیروهای کماندوی افغانستان | |
| Active | 1965–1992 |
| Disbanded | 28 April 1992 |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Afghanistan Republic of Afghanistan Democratic Republic of Afghanistan |
| Branch | Afghan Army |
| Type | Commando, airborne forces, special forces |
| Role | Airborne assault, air assault, special operations |
| Size | 17 battalions |
| Nickname(s) | “Champions” (شیرجنگ) “Heroes” (قهرمان) |
| Colors | Maroon |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations | Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (37th Commando Battalion) |
The history of special forces units in the Afghan military dates back to the Kingdom of Afghanistan in 1965 when the 242nd Parachute Battalion, the first paratrooper unit of the Afghan Army, was formed during Mohammad Zahir Shah’s reign as an independent battalion.[2][3] In order to suppress demonstrations, riots in the capital and prevent potential coup attempts from Mohammad Daoud Khan, Sardar Abdul Wali established the battalion which could perform parachute jumps, airborne assault missions and rapid manoeuvres. The 242nd Parachute Battalion was stationed in Sherpur District of Kabul.[4]
- ^ Ken Conboy; Paul Hannon (1992). Elite Forces of India and Pakistan.
- ^ Ken Conboy; Paul Hannon (1992). Elite Forces of India and Pakistan.
- ^ Azimi, General Nabi (2019-04-11). The Army and Politics: Afghanistan: 1963-1993. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-7283-8701-7.
- ^ Azimi, General Nabi (2019-04-11). The Army and Politics: Afghanistan: 1963-1993. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-7283-8701-7.
203rd Separate Spetsnaz Battalion
editThe 203rd Separate Spetsnaz Battalion, also referred to as the 203rd SpN or 203rd Special Reconnaissance Battalion (Persian: کندک ۲۰۳ اسپتسناز جداگانه) was an Afghan spetsnaz unit subordinated to KhAD-e Nezami, the Afghan Army’s military intelligence wing.
| 203rd Separate Spetsnaz Battalion | |
|---|---|
| کندک ۲۰۳ اسپتسناز جداگانه | |
| Active | 1981–1992 |
| Disbanded | 1992 |
| Country |  Afghanistan |
| Branch | KhAD-e Nezami |
| Type | Special forces, spetsnaz, airborne infantry |
| Role | Special operations Direct action Air assault Special reconnaissance Counterinsurgency |
| Size | Classified |
| Part of | |
| Garrison/HQ | Kabul |
| Nickname(s) | Special Recon, SpN |
| Engagements | |
History
editIn 1980, under President Babrak Karmal and the Parcham faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense drafted plans to form three Spetsnaz battalions for each of the Afghan Army corps. A year later, in 1981, the 203rd Separate Spetsnaz Battalion was formed (alongside the 212th, 230th and 211th) under the 1st Central Army Corps in Kabul and subordinated to KhAD-e Nezami (military intelligence). The 203rd SpN reportedly worked alongside the Spetsnaz GRU and the Soviet Border Troops, as well as with the Soviet Airborne Forces.
Raid on Swabi caves
edit| Raid on Swabi Caves | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of 1975–76 Afghan offensives | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Loy Afghanistan Khorosanis Afghan server Pashtun Patriots Front WroraSupported by: .svg){kind=small} fwii Safi |
 Aimal Khan’s forces | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Aimal Khan  | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Aimal Khan’s forces | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
250,000 Afghan Army soldiers 8,000 commandos 530 aircraft 30,000 Pashtun militants 10,000 Khorosani militants | 947,000 Khan forces armed with light infantry weapons, 300 captured T-62 tanks, 50 captured Mil Mi-8, 1 captured Mil Mi-24 and 600 artillery pieces | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Afghan ground forces: 51,918 personnel Afghan Air Force: 630 personnel, 265 aircraft lost Khorosani militia: 2,000 men Pashtun militia: 6,000 men Wrora: No casualties | 946,000 rebels (313,000 as a result of the nuclear strike), 1,000 surrendered | ||||||
| 15,000 civilians | |||||||
Afghan coalition operations against Aimal Khan (1975-76)
editAimal Khan emerged from the caves of Swabi and quickly formed a powerful rebel group, achieving early successes, most notably with the capture of Maidan Wardak against the Loy Afghanistan forces led by zh1n. His dominance, however, soon sparked widespread resistance due to his oppressive rule and relentless campaigns across Afghanistan, KPK, and Tajikistan.
The first significant rebellions were led by Al-Balkhi, who rose in Balkh, and Wrora, who led the uprising in Surobi. These revolts inspired other militant groups to join forces in a series of counter-offensives against Aimal Khan's regime. Their efforts proved successful, marking victories in key battles such as the First Battle of Herat. The turning point in Khan's downfall came with Al-Balkhi's victories in the Battle of Mazar-i-Sharif and the Second Battle of Herat.
Wrora also played a crucial role in weakening Khan's forces, particularly during the Battle of Nangarhar, where his offensive resulted in the destruction of 30% of Khan's army. As his power crumbled, Aimal Khan fled, prompting Wrora and Al-Balkhi to launch the Raid on Swabi Caves. Al-Balkhi began the Badakhshan Offensive from the north, while Wrora advanced with the Swat Offensive from the south. They pushed all the way to Khan's stronghold in Swabi, forcing him to flee to Kabul.
Before the conflict, Kabul had been designated as an International Zone, where all parties agreed that no military action would take place. However, Aimal Khan violated this agreement by seizing Kabul without a battle, committing human rights violations in the process. In response, the coalition decided to invade Kabul, leading to the Battle of Kabul. The battle was swift, lasting just one day, with all coalition militias taking control of different parts of the city.
Upon hearing of the coalition's victory, Aimal Khan attempted to escape to Rawalpindi but was captured by Wrora. In a dramatic end, Khan was hung by his foot and executed by the coalition leaders, who all fired upon him simultaneously, bringing an end to his rule.
Battles
edit- Aimal Khan's conquest of Afghanistan