| Khost Protection Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2002-2021 |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Allegiance | Khalq |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Role | Counterinsurgency Special operations |
| Size | 3,500 to 10,000 soldiers[1][2] |
| Mascot(s) | Tiger |
The Khost Protection Force (KPF), formally known as the 25th Division by the (Afghan) Ministry of Defence[2] was an Afghan paramilitary group that has been active in eastern Afghanistan. It is the oldest of a number of highly secretive CIA-backed paramilitaries formed following the United States invasion of Afghanistan, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Security (NDS), being under its command.[3]
Initially largely made up of former People's Democratic Party members, the KPF was based at Camp Chapman in Khost Province and it also had battalions in Gardez and Sharana, operating in the region bordering Pakistan's North Waziristan District.[4]
The KPF has been accused of war crimes including torture and killing civilians.[5]
- ^ "The Ghost of Khost: What History Might Tell Us about the Future of Afghanistan > Air University (AU) > Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs Article Display". www.airuniversity.af.edu.
- ^ a b https://www.afghan-bios.info/index.php?option=com_afghanbios&id=3031&task=view&total=3486&start=705&Itemid=2
- ^ "Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat". Afghanistan Analysts Network - English. January 21, 2019.
- ^ "CIA Afghan counterterrorist forces". afghan-bios.info. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- ^ Raghavan, Sudarsan (2015-12-03). "CIA runs shadow war with Afghan militia implicated in civilian killings". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-19.