Southern tribal militia (Afghanistan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
yes
|
| PGM ID Number: |
213
|
| Country: |
Afghanistan |
| Date formed: |
June 13, 2006 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The PGM originated as an attempt by the government to counter a re-emerging security threat from the Taliban in 2006. |
| 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?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
state (institution)
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
no information |
| 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
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
Pashtuns (Afghanistan)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
inferred
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
Members of the PGM wore police uniforms due to their role as supplements to the regular security forces. Reports state that rearming these tribal groups disrupted the previously initiated disarmament process. Ethnic membership is inferred because Pashtuns were a government senior partner which is responsible for the militia and based on the fact that this is the ethnic group of President Karzai. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The group was used to counter terrorist attacks and the Taliban when they regrouped and to provide security in unstable regions in the southern part of the country, supporting police forces. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
local support
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
Although there are no direct reports of how the group treated civilians, the fact that the establishment and strengthening of the PGM obstructed the disarmament process and concerns about possible extortion may indicate negative consequences for civilians. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
One source states that members were to be chosen from locals to act as policemen, although it is not explicitly said whether this selection process would also imply coercion in the case of refusal to join. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Reports state that the militia had 250 members in Farah province, while another source estimates a total of 2,000 members across the south of Afghanistan. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
According to news sources the PGM was armed by the government, although it is also stated that it used its own weapons. There is nothing said about training. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The group was supposed to be incorporated into the national police and placed under its command. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Evidence
