OPINION/EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Two years in the past, on August 28, 2021, the ultimate British evacuation flight took off from Kabul airport. So ended 20 years of British endeavour in Afghanistan. Some was ineffectual however some inspirational. That is the story of a significant success however with a decidedly bitter aftertaste.
Simply earlier than midnight on Saturday August 14, 2021, an extended line of beige colored 4×4 automobiles snaked out of a high-walled fortress in Logar Province about 35 miles south of Kabul. The automobiles contained some 300 troopers of Afghan Particular Police Commando Drive 333 (CF333). This was not the Afghan military evaporating and fleeing the Taliban advance. Fairly the opposite. They had been in uniform and absolutely armed. This was a British educated and funded unit ‘marching to the sound of the weapons.’ Ignoring direct threats from the Taliban, they headed for Kabul to assist with the defence of their capital metropolis.
On the morning of the August 15, because the evacuation from Kabul airport bought underway, the Commanding Officer (CO) and a squadron of round 40 troopers had been requested to deploy to the Baron Resort at Kabul airport to supply safety for British passport holders. On the 17th, three of their quantity had been evacuated with the remaining 37, informed by British troops that their help was not required. In the meantime, two different squadrons of CF333 had been ordered to patrol the east of town, whereas the remaining squadron defended the Police Particular Models’ Headquarters. By night, 333 was the final shaped unit of Afghan troopers nonetheless loyal to a regime whose President had fled in ignominy. Simply earlier than midnight, they had been suggested to save lots of themselves. Some went to the airport. Just a few managed to get on flights.
Their final CO believes that a number of dozen members of CF333 have made it to the UK and about double that quantity are nonetheless in Afghanistan. A lot of the deserted 333 survivors have been in hiding. Others have fled to Pakistan, Iran and past. One has lately arrived by small boat from France. Those that nonetheless stay in Afghanistan are in fixed hazard.
A number of 333 troopers have been murdered by the Taliban. Just a few of their deaths have been publicised just like the case of Noor Agha, a CF333 sniper, murdered in entrance of his spouse and youngsters. A more moderen instance was Riaz Ahmedzai, shot dead in entrance of his home. One other sniper was murdered in September 2021. The toll of deaths will proceed to mount because the years cross with fewer and fewer receiving any press curiosity.
I’ve simply been despatched a rejection determination despatched to one in every of CF333’s senior officers by the UK authorities’s Afghan Relocations and Help Coverage (ARAP). It’s fairly clear that the officers deciding this man’s destiny and that of his household, haven’t any conception of what CF333 was. How might this be? Its historical past dates to the frantic weeks after 9/11; twenty-two years in the past.
CF333 was one of many greatest achievements of the British authorities in Afghanistan. Its origins stem from when the (then) International and Commonwealth Workplace (FCO) attended a United Nations convention at Geneva in late 2001 and provided to lead the worldwide neighborhood’s counter narcotics effort in Afghanistan.
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On returning to London there was a second of trepidation because the sheer scale of the enterprise was contemplated. One of many extra bold concepts was the creation of an Afghan Particular Narcotics Drive (ASNF), now referred to as CF333. The core idea was that it ought to comprise solely Afghans. It ought to be Afghan-led and will report back to the Afghan Inside Ministry. Solely the funding and coaching ought to come from UK. Its existence and funding had been briefed to the UK Parliament.
The pressure was created in double-quick time. It comprised 150 males led by an inspirational Brigadier who had fought beneath the Soviets in opposition to the mujahideen. Initially it had about 30 Toyota off-road automobiles quickly supplemented by three Mi17 helicopters in-built Ukraine. Two years later, at FCO’s request, it was doubled in dimension to 300 (together with girls) plus six choppers. Quickly it developed the repute of being the perfect Particular Forces unit in all of Afghanistan. This video of U.S. Common Nicholson visiting CF333 at its Logar base makes for painful viewing in gentle of what was to return.
The Brigadier’s entire ethos, learnt painfully throughout the failed Soviet presence in Afghanistan, was that 333’s position was to assist the individuals by liberating them from the vicious and corrupt servitude of the opium producers and traffickers. He held instructional classes on the hazards of medication and created a nationwide community of well-wishers. At any time when 333 arrived in a village they had been welcomed, even feted. This was as a result of they had been evidently Afghans and never international troopers. The sight of a disciplined Afghan pressure was the supply of appreciable pleasure amongst a inhabitants which related males with weapons with violent and rapacious behaviour. Later, 333 developed refined Counter Terrorist and Counter Insurgency capabilities.
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The ARAP officers probably noticed that the latest applicant had not labored for the British authorities however for the Afghan Inside Ministry. So, his software seemingly went straight into the ‘Rejected’ pile. Had they’d any information of the pressure’s origins, they’d have seen that its Afghan identification was the entire function behind what was nonetheless a completely British authorities creation. This can be why a whole bunch of CF333 troopers and their households are nonetheless in mortal hazard and the loss of life toll continues to develop.
That is all a far cry from the times when each senior British authorities minister and normal would go to 333’s fort as a part of their Afghan go to programme, at all times ending with a speech about UK’s long-term dedication to Afghanistan. Now, that after proud unit is dispersed. The fortunate ones are pizza-delivery riders in Liverpool or Exeter. Others dwell in concern in Afghanistan having destroyed or buried their unit badges, commendations and medals from the proudest days of their lives.
My shut affiliation with 333 resulted in 2008. Nonetheless, in January 2021, (seven months earlier than the evacuation) I realised that the probably end result of the Doha Accords (the Trump administration’s settlement with the Taliban) would place the lads of CF333 at explicit threat. I wrote to senior officers on the newly merged International Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (FCDO) and copied the Ambassador in Kabul suggesting it was not too early to make preparations for the security of 333 to whom we owed an obligation of care. My e mail concluded “We will all see the trajectory of Afghan occasions and I might argue in favour of relocating individuals to UK now or quickly, quite than wait till an emergency. We don’t wish to be flying plane into Kabul at a time when Taliban might be on the streets of town.”
My suggestion went unheeded, however it’s not too late for the FCDO to intervene within the ARAP course of and be sure that candidates from CF333 are fast-tracked to security within the UK.
A crowdsource fund has been set as much as assist the members of CF333.
This column by Cipher Transient Knowledgeable Tim Willasey-Wilsey was first printed by our associates at RUSI
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