Who Were the Shadowy Afghan Forces Linked to the National Guard Shooting Suspect?

The recent shooting involving National Guard members has sparked interest in a group called the "Zero Units. " This group, which the suspect allegedly worked with, was a secretive Afghan force. They were known for their close ties with U. S. and other foreign troops during the war in Afghanistan. An ID badge, widely shared online, suggests the suspect was part of the "Kandahar Strike Force" or "03" unit. This unit operated under the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence agency. The NDS was created with CIA support for the previous U. S. -backed government. A former high-ranking Afghan general revealed that the "03" unit was under the special forces directorate of the NDS. They were highly active and professional, trained and equipped by the CIA. All their operations were conducted under CIA command. These units were notorious in Afghanistan for their secrecy and alleged brutality. They were involved in numerous extrajudicial killings of civilians, especially during night raids. Despite this, the U. S. and its allies considered them among the most reliable domestic forces in Afghanistan. The current Taliban government in Afghanistan has not responded to the arrest in Washington. Officials in Kabul did not comment on the incident. The ID badge also mentions "Firebase Gecko, " a base used by the CIA and special forces in Kandahar. This base was located within the former compound of the Taliban's founding leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. The authenticity of the ID badge has not been independently verified. However, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that the suspect had previously worked with the U. S. government, including the CIA, as part of a partner force in Kandahar.