Deploying Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Technology: Navigating The Complexities Of Afghanistan

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) is Afghanistan's national intelligence and security service. The CIA was responsible for assisting the Afghan government in establishing the NDS, which is considered the successor to KHAD, the previous intelligence organization before the Afghan Civil War.

The NDS has been criticized for human rights violations and has been likened to the brutal intelligence service of the Afghan communists in the 1980s. There have been reports of dissidents being attacked and murdered, with critics claiming that the NDS is building a regime of terror with the CIA's help.

The NDS was mandated to investigate cases and incidents that affect Afghan national security and to fight terrorism. It shared information about regional terrorism and major crimes with Afghan ministries and provincial governors. The agency was dissolved in 2021 after the War in Afghanistan.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS)

The NDS was formed in the early 2000s under the watch of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which provided funding, training, and direction. The NDS was considered the successor to KHAD, the previous intelligence organization before the Afghan Civil War.

The NDS was tasked with investigating cases involving "national treason, espionage, terrorism, sabotage, propaganda against the Government, war propaganda, assisting enemy forces, and organised activity against internal and external security". It shared information about regional terrorism and major crimes with the Afghan ministries and provincial governors. Its activities were regulated according to the National Security Law.

The NDS had paramilitary units to conduct tactical operations and also established local community defence units called 'local uprisings' and secretive units such as Sangorian. It was divided into departments and units that were known by numbers, with around 30 departments operational before it became defunct.

The NDS was dissolved in 2021 after the War in Afghanistan, and the Taliban announced the establishment of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) to replace it.

The Taliban's interim government

The majority of the cabinet positions were given to Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, comprising about half of the country's population. However, there was limited representation of other ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Uzbeks, and one Hazara, the third-largest ethnic group in the country. The appointments included Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a close aide to the Taliban's founder, as the head of the cabinet or prime minister. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban, was appointed as one of two deputy prime ministers, while the other deputy prime minister position went to Abdul Salam Hanafi, an ethnic Uzbek. The powerful position of defence minister was given to Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban's founding leader, Mullah Omar. The interior minister position was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, a prominent member of the Haqqani Network, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States. The foreign minister is Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha, and the finance minister is Hedayatullah Badri.

The international community has expressed concern about the composition of the Taliban's interim government, particularly the absence of women and the dominance of the Taliban's old guard. The United States has stated that it is concerned about the "affiliations and track records" of some of the appointees, and the United Nations has emphasised the need for a "negotiated and inclusive settlement" to bring sustainable peace to Afghanistan. The Taliban's refusal to include women and its retention of hardline figures in its government have hampered its efforts to secure funding from donors and gain international recognition.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The country's security forces were made up of the Afghan National Police, under the Ministry of Interior, and the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. The National Directorate of Security (NDS), founded in 2002, was the primary intelligence organ of Afghanistan and was part of the Afghan National Security Forces. The CIA assisted the Afghan government in establishing the NDS, and the two organisations shared a close working relationship.

The NDS was headquartered in Kabul and had field offices and training facilities in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It was mandated to investigate cases that affected national security and to fight terrorism. The NDS was regulated by the National Security Law and was dissolved in 2021 after the War in Afghanistan.

The NDS was involved in several incidents of human rights abuses, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances. There were also reports of private prisons run by members of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, which were used for detainee abuse.

The United States and its allies had military forces deployed in Afghanistan under a United Nations Security Council mandate. NATO allies entered the country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to prevent it from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.

In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement for the withdrawal of international forces by May 2021. This was followed by the collapse of the Afghan government and security forces in the summer of 2021, leading to the Taliban's takeover.

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)

The ANSF was established in 2002 as the primary domestic and foreign intelligence agency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The CIA played a role in assisting the Afghan government in establishing the ANSF. The ANSF was mandated to investigate cases and incidents that affected Afghan national security and to fight terrorism.

In 2015, NATO launched the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) to train, advise, and assist the ANSF in fighting terrorism and securing their country. The RSM was terminated in September 2021 following the withdrawal of all RSM forces.

The ANSF played a critical role in the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. ISAF was a UN-mandated coalition led by NATO, which aimed to enable the Afghan government to provide effective security across the country and build the capacity of the ANSF. The ISAF mission was completed in 2014 when the ANSF assumed full responsibility for security across Afghanistan.

The ANSF faced several challenges and required improvements in force quality and quantity. There were also reports of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearances committed by the ANSF.

In August 2021, following the collapse of the Afghan government and the ANSF, NATO focused on evacuating personnel from Allied and partner countries, as well as those affiliated with NATO. This marked the end of the ANSF's role as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban rule.

The CIA's role in Afghanistan

1979-1989: Operation Cyclone

The CIA's first major operation in Afghanistan, Operation Cyclone, began in 1979 during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. The operation involved financing and supplying weapons to the anti-communist mujahideen guerrillas in Afghanistan, who were fighting against the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. This operation was expanded under President Ronald Reagan and cost the US between $20-30 million per year, peaking at $630 million in 1987.

1989-1992: Post-Soviet Withdrawal

After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the CIA's objective shifted to toppling the Soviet-backed Najibullah government. However, the CIA's influence in Afghanistan decreased during the George H.W. Bush administration, and Congress slashed the CIA's budget for Afghan operations.

1996-2001: Rise of the Taliban

During this period, the CIA continued to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the rise of the Taliban regime and the activities of al-Qaeda. The CIA attempted covert operations aimed at undermining the Taliban and supported opposition groups, such as the Northern Alliance led by Ahmad Shah Massoud.

2001: September 11 Attacks and US Invasion

Following the September 11 attacks, the CIA played a crucial role in the planning and execution of the US invasion of Afghanistan, code-named Operation Enduring Freedom. The CIA worked closely with the Northern Alliance and deployed officers to Afghanistan within 15 days of the attacks. The CIA provided intelligence, technology, and logistical support to US military forces and their allies.

2002: Formation of the National Directorate of Security (NDS)

The CIA was involved in the formation and organization of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) in 2002. The NDS was the country's primary intelligence and security service and was modeled after the SAVAK, the intelligence agency of Iran during the Pahlavi dynasty.

2010s: Counterterrorism Operations

During the 2010s, the CIA continued its counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan, targeting militant leaders and working to disrupt terrorist groups. The CIA also monitored the activities of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups operating in the country.

2021: US Withdrawal and Taliban Takeover

The CIA remained active in Afghanistan until the US withdrawal in 2021, which led to the Taliban regaining control of the country. The CIA attempted to engage with the Taliban and gather intelligence, but ultimately, the US and its allies were forced to evacuate.

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