Pro-Government Militias
Village defence force (Afghanistan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 203 |
| Country: | Afghanistan |
| Date formed: | Feb. 17, 1984 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | Armed party members of the Democratic Afghan Peoples’ Party (PDPA) (with involvement of its Revolutionary Council) formed the militia groups in 1984. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | political party; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | People's Democratic Party |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | village/rural; workers |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [400, 600] |
| Target(s): | criminals; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; self-defense and security |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The PGM is referred to as Village Defence Forces, Defenders of the Revolution and People’s Militia. There is no specific mention of Russian support. The group also included subgroups of women. Detachments were intended to be organised at the district and administrative area level. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was formed as a pro-revolutionary force to counter Muslim insurgents and other opponents (e.g. criminals) and to protect the integrity of Afghanistan. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | According to a reported statement, the PGM was partially formed from tribal armies, suggesting an ethnic incentive to join for these groups. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | Based on news reports, the group had 400 members in 1985, a number that increased to 600 in 1986. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The government provided equipment and means of communication and transport to the group, although it is not explicitly said whether this included weapons or not. In one instance it is reported that members carried AK-47s. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was intended to be formed in each district and administrative area. It is not clear whether or how the government then controlled these local groups. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.