Uncovering the Background of the National Guard Shooting Suspect
An image of an ID badge circulating widely online has shed light on the suspect in the shooting of National Guard members. The badge allegedly shows that the suspect was assigned to the “Kandahar Strike Force” or “03” unit, a specialized team that worked closely with U.S. and other foreign forces during the war in Afghanistan. This unit was one of several so-called “Zero Units” that operated under the umbrella of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s intelligence agency established with CIA backing.
The ID badge also carries the words “Firebase Gecko,” which was the name of a base used by the CIA and special forces in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan. This base was located inside the compound of the Taliban’s founding leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. While CBS News has not independently verified the authenticity of the ID badge, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that the suspect had previously worked “with the U.S. Government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.”
Understanding the “Zero Units”
The “Zero Units” were exclusively composed of Afghan nationals and were known for their secrecy and alleged brutality. Members of these units were implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings of civilians, particularly during night raids. Despite this, they were considered by the U.S. and its international partners to be among the most trusted domestic forces in Afghanistan. A former senior Afghan general under the previous government told CBS News that “03 unit, also known as The Kandahar Strike Force (KSF), was under special forces directorate of NDS. They were the most active and professional forces, trained and equipped by the CIA. All their operations were conducted under the CIA command.”
As a member of a Zero Unit, the suspect would have been virtually guaranteed a route to asylum in the U.S. because members of these elite units were high on the list for Taliban retaliation after the group retook control of the country. Many members of these units played key roles in the August 2021 evacuation from Kabul, in return for a guarantee of space on a flight for themselves and their families out of Afghanistan.
Reaction and Aftermath
There was no immediate reaction from Afghanistan’s current Taliban government, and officials in Kabul did not respond to CBS News’ requests for comment on the arrest in Washington. The incident has raised questions about the vetting process for Afghan nationals who worked with U.S. forces and were subsequently granted asylum in the United States. For more information on this developing story, visit Here
Image Source: www.cbsnews.com
