Understanding Afghanistan's 'Zero Units' Linked to a National Guard Shooting Suspect

An online image allegedly shows an Afghan military ID involving an individual associated with the 'Kandahar Strike Force,' also known as the '03' unit. This unit is part of the groups informally called the 'Zero Units,' which collaborated closely with U.S. and other international military forces.

The ID badge includes the name 'Firebase Gecko,' a site used by the CIA and Special Forces in southern Kandahar, occupying facilities that once belonged to Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban's founder.

The authenticity of the badge remains unconfirmed by CBS News, though CIA leadership has acknowledged the suspect's past involvement with U.S. agencies, including the CIA, as an affiliate of a support unit stationed in Kandahar.

The 'Zero Units,' composed solely of elite operatives, functioned under Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS), an intelligence body formed with the CIA's support for Afghanistan's former government backed by the U.S.

A former high-ranking Afghan official from the previous government shared that the '03 unit,' known as the 'Kandahar Strike Force,' was part of the NDS’s special forces division. These teams were highly active, professionally trained, and equipped by the CIA, and their operations were conducted under CIA supervision.

In Afghanistan, these units were infamous for their covert nature and reported harsh tactics, with members allegedly involved in extrajudicial civilian fatalities, particularly through night raids.

Despite controversies, the U.S. and its allies regarded these units as among Afghanistan’s most reliable domestic military forces.

Afghan authorities did not provide immediate comments to CBS News regarding the suspect's arrest in Washington, nor were any statements available from Kabul officials addressing the situation.

Serving in a 'Zero Unit' would have significantly increased the suspect's chances of receiving asylum in the United States. Members of these elite groups were prioritized for evacuation following the Taliban's return to power, having been instrumental during the critical moments of August 2021, which secured their and their families' evacuation from Afghanistan.