Empowering supposed “tribal militias” in Afghanistan as a means to defend areas outside of the immediate control of Afghanistan’s National Security Forces (ANSF) from Taliban and other insurgent groups has become a popular option for U.S. military strategists to consider. Over the last two years, Afghan-based insurgents have increasingly attackd and overran villages, established parallel “shadow” governments and expanded their influence over large swaths of territory. Stepped up expansion efforts by insurgent factions have succeeded in overrunning once neutral areas in close proximity to Kabul, especially in Wardak and Logar provinces; a mere 30 miles southwest of Kabul. Read entire article below.
“Mobilizing Afghan Militias: Civil Defense Forces vs. Tribal Militias,” Middle East Times, 16 Feb. 2009.