National Directorate
of Security (NDS)
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) was the
intelligence agency of the government of Afghanistan. It was formed up
in the early 2000s under the watchful of the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA). Funding, training and direction (in the early years) was
provided by the CIA. The NDS was regarded as one of the least corrupt and
most professional security organization in Afghanistan.
In addition to gathering and analyzing
intelligence, the NDS also had paramilitary units to conduct tactical
operations. It has also established local community defense units called 'local
uprisings' and secretive units such as
Sangorian.
In the post August-2021 era, once the Taliban
established control of the Afghan government, members of the NDS were
actively hunted by the Taliban and beaten, tortured, imprisoned, or
'disappeared'. The NDS was replaced by the Taliban's General Directorate
of Intelligence (GDI). 1.
References about the NDS
National Directorate of Security - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Directorate_of_Security
Papers & Reports about the NDS
2018
Mishra, Anant,
"Strengthening Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security: Is it
equipped to counter emerging threats?", Small Wars Journal.
The author argues that the flow of intelligence among the security
agencies of Afghanistan is hampered by a lack of communication,
cooperattion, and coordination.
2015
Ruttig, Thomas. Political Cleavages over
Pakistan: The NDS chief's farewell, Afghanistan Analysts Network
(AAN), December 23, 2015. Ruttig examines the background in the
resignation of former NDS Chief Rahmatullah Nabil in the context of
intelligence failures and President Ghani's attempted reconciliation
with Pakistan and pursuit of peace talks with the Taliban.
www.afghanistan-analysts.org/political-cleavages-over-pakistan-the-nds-chiefs-farewell/
News Reports about the NDS
April 13, 2023,
"They helped the CIA in Afghanistan. Now They're suffering in America",
by Antonio Olivo, The Washington Post. Article describes the
plight of Afghan members of the 'Zero Units' that were used by the
Central Intelligence Agency during the 20-long U.S. involvement in the
Afghan conflict. Many are having trouble seeking legal status in the
United States and reestablishing their lives. Some are being assisted by
Famil USA, a
volunteer organization with several former CIA officers on the board of
directors.
November 21, 2022,
"CIA, Spec Ops roles in Kabul's collapse belie official versions",
by C. Tatum, SpyTalk. The paramilitary units of the National
Directorate of Security - the Zero units - were instrumental in
providing security for the Kabul international airport during the
non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) of August 2021. The CIA
facilitated the movement of the Zero units through Taliban-held
territory to the international airport in Kabul. Once at the airport the
Zero units assisted in clearing the airport of the thousands of Afghans
who were on or adjacent to the runway, established perimeter security,
and provided security at some of the airport entry gates. In return, the
NDS personnel and their families were evacuated on U.S. military and
other aircraft to 'lily pads' in the Middle East.
November 20, 2022,
"Ground Zero", by Fahim Abed, The Intercept. This
article explores the sequence of events prior to and during the Kabul
non-combatant evacuation operation when the CIA assisted in the
evacucation of many of the personnel from the NDS paramilitary units
from Afghanistan in August 2021.
May 15, 2016.
"Intel Unit Aims to Exploit Taliban Divisions", Gandhara Blog.
The National Directorate of Security has established a 300 plus covert
unit to disrupt insurgent operations in Helmand province.
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Endnotes
1. For more on the GDI, read
"Afghanistan's intelligence agency emerges as new threat to indedpendent
media", by Waliullah Rahmani and Steven Butler, Committee to
Protect Journalists, March 2, 2022.
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