60:
365:, the unit often raids isolated outposts, destroying the local defences, and then retreating before other forces can respond. The Red Unit often spearheads Taliban offensives, as it has proven to be very effective in combat. Nevertheless, its equipment and training are inferior to those of Western special forces. By 2021, the unit was among the most elite Taliban units, alongside the
372:
Its members differ in various regards from regular
Taliban troops. Unlike other Taliban, they are not loyal to various clans or villages, but to the movement itself. By 2020, one of the unit's training camps was the so-called "Tariq bin Ziad Military Corps", located in the mountains of
1283:
271:
who described the outfit as "very dangerous and very successful". In the subsequent time, the Red Unit began operating all around
Afghanistan and used by the insurgents for the most important as well as dangerous missions.
861:
906:
1358:
692:
1644:
608:
405:
Abdul Wadood, was captured by the Afghan military in March 2018. By 2020, one of the unit's main trainers was Ammar Ibn Yasser who was described as "the
Mujahideen of Mujahideen" by Taliban media.
497:
641:
1573:
568:
851:
898:
280:
1654:
263:
in early 2016. In the summer of that year a
Taliban spokesperson reported to media that the Red Unit was producing consistently "good" results in actions against the
722:
401:
forces in late
November 2017. He was succeeded by Mullah Shah Wali (alias "Haji Nasir"), who was killed in December 2017. An advisor to Mullah Shah Wali, the German
267:
and discussions were underway about utilizing it for increased operational deployments. The assessment of the unit's potency was echoed by provincial officials in
684:
598:
353:
or commandos, analysts have argued that the Red Unit was probably not performing traditional special operations missions, but were, instead, being used as
828:
945:
527:
487:
789:
453:
1340:
631:
974:
558:
1121:
1649:
1212:
1353:
1519:
997:
132:
714:
1462:
757:
1513:
1487:
1476:
137:
105:
1404:
1187:
1164:
967:
1525:
1470:
394:
1126:
812:
240:
64:
1547:
1409:
1300:
1192:
1131:
443:
779:
1318:
1221:
960:
1039:
244:
84:
1399:
276:
120:
1497:
1492:
1348:
1290:
935:
358:
299:
125:
1378:
1207:
1157:
603:
386:
157:
1502:
1452:
419:
343:
307:
264:
236:
8:
1608:
1588:
1447:
1419:
1373:
1268:
1263:
1231:
1085:
1054:
983:
414:
366:
385:
The first known commander of the unit was Haji Nasarv according to a 2016 report by the
1482:
1363:
1323:
1236:
1059:
1044:
110:
685:"Taliban takes control of Afghan provincial capitals of Kunduz, Sar-i-Pul and Taloqan"
1568:
1278:
1241:
1049:
1034:
852:"These are the elite Taliban forces fighting for a province once held by U.S. troops"
820:
327:
1542:
1432:
1226:
1150:
1018:
636:
563:
492:
374:
288:
1563:
1328:
1295:
1069:
856:
310:
during which one of its commanders, Mawlawi
Mubarak, was killed by an airstrike.
292:
284:
198:
1613:
1305:
1202:
1064:
747:
350:
115:
1638:
1578:
1246:
932:
Seliger, Marco (November 2018). "Krieg ohne Ende" [War without end].
824:
1273:
448:
354:
339:
323:
318:
The Red Unit, which numbered approximately 300 by 2016, reportedly employs
248:
88:
1603:
1437:
1427:
1258:
1253:
1197:
1013:
161:
74:
47:
813:"In Afghanistan, Follow the White High-Tops and You'll Find the Taliban"
1623:
528:"Taliban's special forces outfit providing 'security' at Kabul airport"
402:
362:
331:
952:
811:
Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Abed, Fahim; Huylebroek, Jim (28 January 2021).
632:"Taliban says Islamic State has been 'completely defeated' in Jawzjan"
488:"Taliban touts more elite 'Red Unit' fighter training on social media"
1618:
334:. Members have been seen during photo ops to be carrying Icom IC-V8
1645:
Military units and formations of the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
1598:
1583:
1313:
752:
319:
92:
1383:
1173:
902:
784:
780:"Taliban 'special forces' lead Helmand assault: Afghan officials"
268:
230:
1593:
303:
295:, aiding in a number of major Taliban advances in these areas.
260:
1368:
342:, and considered to be better trained and equipped than most
748:"Taliban territory: Life in Afghanistan under the militants"
678:
676:
393:
reported the Red Unit commander was Mullah Taqi. The Afghan
322:
tactics and is equipped with "advanced weaponry", including
941:
899:"Command of Taliban 'special forces' killed in Afghanistan"
599:"Taliban's new commando force tests Afghan army's strength"
398:
275:
In July 2018, the Red Unit played an important part in the
1142:
810:
663:
661:
659:
673:
390:
335:
881:
879:
559:"German captured while fighting with Taliban's Red Unit"
283:. By late 2018, the unit was known to be most active in
281:
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan
Province
656:
338:
radios. They are known to be especially proficient in
876:
313:
306:
from Afghan government forces and taking part in the
279:, which resulted in a major Taliban victory over the
259:
The Red Unit saw its first operational deployment in
944:: Verband der Reservisten der Deutschen Bundeswehr (
715:"Key Taliban commander among 40 dead in Afghanistan"
211:
1655:Military units and formations established in 2016
526:Roggio, Bill; Joscelyn, Thomas (22 August 2021).
1636:
525:
437:
435:
1158:
968:
444:"Red Group: The Taliban's New Commando Force"
849:
629:
556:
521:
519:
517:
515:
485:
432:
1165:
1151:
975:
961:
16:Taliban's elite commando/shock troop unit
552:
550:
548:
512:
397:reported that Mullah Taqi was killed by
982:
931:
891:
885:
850:Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (15 August 2016).
667:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
471:
1637:
742:
740:
682:
349:Though generally called the Taliban's
1400:Destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan
1146:
956:
864:from the original on 22 February 2017
545:
1520:Republican insurgency in Afghanistan
909:from the original on 6 December 2017
596:
592:
590:
588:
586:
468:
441:
133:Republican insurgency in Afghanistan
1101:Yarmouk 60 Special Forces Battalion
792:from the original on 25 August 2017
737:
725:from the original on 13 August 2021
644:from the original on 13 August 2018
235:, is an elite military unit of the
202:
13:
1650:2016 establishments in Afghanistan
695:from the original on 8 August 2021
611:from the original on 16 April 2017
571:from the original on 5 August 2018
500:from the original on 11 April 2020
314:Tactics, equipment, and membership
160:(Leader of the Islamic Emirate of
14:
1666:
760:from the original on 10 June 2017
583:
456:from the original on 12 June 2017
298:The Red Unit was involved in the
1526:Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
395:National Directorate of Security
243:, described in some accounts as
58:
1127:Military history of Afghanistan
843:
831:from the original on 7 May 2021
804:
772:
597:Kahn, Mirwais (7 August 2017).
1098:3rd Infantry Brigade Commandos
707:
683:Roggio, Bill (8 August 2021).
623:
442:Snow, Shawn (12 August 2016).
241:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
138:Islamic State–Taliban conflict
106:War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
65:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
1:
1301:Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai
1132:Military ranks of Afghanistan
925:
630:Bill Roggio (1 August 2018).
425:
380:
557:Bill Roggio (6 March 2018).
486:Bill Roggio (8 April 2020).
7:
1172:
408:
212:
10:
1671:
254:
1569:Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
1556:
1548:2021–2022 Afghan protests
1535:
1461:
1418:
1392:
1339:
1180:
1114:
1078:
1027:
1006:
990:
302:, assisting in capturing
245:special operations forces
168:
151:
146:
98:
85:Special operations forces
80:
70:
53:
43:
35:
28:
23:
1393:Human rights/violations
121:Battle of Kunduz (2015)
1354:Cabinet (2021–present)
1291:Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil
998:Chief of General Staff
689:FDD's Long War Journal
359:rapid deployment force
300:2021 Taliban offensive
126:2021 Taliban offensive
1208:Hibatullah Akhundzada
1104:Victorious Force Unit
216:), also known as the
158:Hibatullah Akhundzada
1574:Guantanamo detainees
1040:201 Khalid Ibn Walid
420:Islamic Emirate Army
344:Afghan National Army
308:Battle of Lashkargah
265:Afghan National Army
237:Islamic Emirate Army
1448:Badri 313 Battalion
1269:Abdul Hakim Haqqani
1264:Shahabuddin Delawar
1232:Abdul Ghani Baradar
991:Command and control
984:Afghan Armed Forces
905:. 3 December 2017.
415:Badri 313 Battalion
367:Badri 313 Battalion
233:Special Forces Unit
1477:War in Afghanistan
1405:Treatment of women
1324:Abdul Qayyum Zakir
1237:Sirajuddin Haqqani
1188:Leadership Council
1095:Lashkar-e-Mansoori
817:The New York Times
788:. 14 August 2016.
328:heavy machine guns
111:Taliban insurgency
1632:
1631:
1438:55th Arab Brigade
1279:Amir Khan Muttaqi
1242:Obaidullah Akhund
1140:
1139:
948:). pp. 8–21.
721:. 6 August 2021.
670:, pp. 10–13.
210:
188:
187:
1662:
1589:Amir al-Mu'minin
1543:Taliban in Qatar
1514:Conflict with IS
1359:Religious police
1227:Mohammad Rabbani
1167:
1160:
1153:
1144:
1143:
1019:Afghan Air Force
1007:Service branches
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970:
963:
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953:
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919:
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801:
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734:
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651:
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637:Long War Journal
627:
621:
620:
618:
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594:
581:
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564:Long War Journal
554:
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532:Long War Journal
523:
510:
509:
507:
505:
493:Long War Journal
483:
466:
465:
463:
461:
439:
375:Paktika Province
289:Baghlan Province
277:Battle of Darzab
215:
209:romanized:
208:
206:
182:Mullah Shah Wali
63:
62:
61:
21:
20:
1670:
1669:
1665:
1664:
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1660:
1659:
1635:
1634:
1633:
1628:
1564:Haqqani network
1552:
1531:
1457:
1414:
1388:
1335:
1329:Zain-Ul-Abideen
1296:Qari Ahmadullah
1193:Supreme leaders
1176:
1171:
1141:
1136:
1110:
1074:
1023:
1002:
986:
981:
928:
923:
922:
912:
910:
897:
896:
892:
884:
877:
867:
865:
857:Washington Post
848:
844:
834:
832:
809:
805:
795:
793:
778:
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773:
763:
761:
756:. 8 June 2017.
746:
745:
738:
728:
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713:
712:
708:
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681:
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647:
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524:
513:
503:
501:
484:
469:
459:
457:
440:
433:
428:
411:
383:
316:
293:Faryab Province
285:Kunduz Province
257:
191:
170:
153:
142:
91:
87:
59:
57:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1668:
1658:
1657:
1652:
1647:
1630:
1629:
1627:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1614:Talibanization
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1560:
1558:
1557:Related topics
1554:
1553:
1551:
1550:
1545:
1539:
1537:
1533:
1532:
1530:
1529:
1528:(2004–present)
1523:
1522:(2021–present)
1517:
1516:(2015–present)
1511:
1510:
1509:
1508:
1507:
1506:
1505:
1498:2021 offensive
1495:
1493:2006 offensive
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1306:Khalil Haqqani
1303:
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1222:Deputy leaders
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1203:Akhtar Mansour
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1162:
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1129:
1124:
1118:
1116:
1115:Related topics
1112:
1111:
1109:
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1105:
1102:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1088:
1082:
1080:
1079:Special forces
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886:Seliger (2018)
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771:
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672:
668:Seliger (2018)
655:
622:
604:Military Times
582:
544:
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389:. In 2017 the
387:Military Times
382:
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351:special forces
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116:Fall of Sangin
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1582:
1580:
1579:Islamic state
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1503:Fall of Kabul
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1255:
1252:
1248:
1247:Mullah Yaqoob
1245:
1243:
1240:
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1224:
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1220:
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1058:
1056:
1055:207 Al-Farooq
1053:
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1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
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1030:
1026:
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1017:
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1005:
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993:
989:
985:
978:
973:
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958:
955:
947:
943:
940:(in German).
939:
937:
930:
929:
908:
904:
900:
894:
888:, p. 13.
887:
882:
880:
863:
859:
858:
853:
846:
830:
826:
822:
818:
814:
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791:
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455:
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196:
190:Military unit
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159:
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127:
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66:
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52:
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46:
42:
38:
34:
31:
27:
22:
19:
1479:(2001–2021)
1453:Conscription
1442:
1274:Hasan Akhund
1090:
1060:209 Al-Fatah
1045:203 Mansoori
933:
911:. Retrieved
893:
866:. Retrieved
855:
845:
833:. Retrieved
816:
806:
794:. Retrieved
783:
774:
762:. Retrieved
751:
727:. Retrieved
718:
709:
697:. Retrieved
688:
646:. Retrieved
635:
625:
613:. Retrieved
602:
573:. Retrieved
562:
535:. Retrieved
531:
502:. Retrieved
491:
458:. Retrieved
449:The Diplomat
447:
384:
371:
361:. Moving on
355:shock troops
348:
340:night combat
324:night vision
317:
297:
274:
258:
249:shock troops
229:
226:Danger Group
225:
221:
217:
203:
194:
192:
89:Shock troops
39:2016–present
29:
18:
1604:Pashtunwali
1473:(1996–2001)
1310:Commanders
1259:Tayyab Agha
1254:Abdul Kabir
1198:Mullah Omar
1050:205 Al-Badr
1035:313 Central
1014:Afghan Army
363:motorcycles
332:M4 carbines
326:equipment,
179:Mullah Taqi
176:Haji Nasarv
162:Afghanistan
99:Engagements
75:Afghan Army
48:Afghanistan
1639:Categories
1624:Waziristan
1609:Safe house
1483:Insurgency
1410:War crimes
1364:Propaganda
1341:Government
1181:Leadership
926:Work cited
913:7 December
426:References
381:Leadership
346:soldiers.
218:Blood Unit
213:Sara kheta
171:commanders
147:Commanders
54:Allegiance
1619:Theocracy
1471:Civil War
1463:Conflicts
1433:Air Force
1122:Equipment
1086:Badri 313
1070:217 Omari
825:0362-4331
729:14 August
699:12 August
537:25 August
222:Red Group
154:commander
93:Commandos
1599:Deobandi
1584:Islamism
1443:Red Unit
1420:Military
1319:Shahzada
1314:Dadullah
1091:Red Unit
1065:215 Azam
907:Archived
862:Archived
829:Archived
790:Archived
758:Archived
753:BBC News
723:Archived
693:Archived
648:9 August
642:Archived
609:Archived
575:5 August
569:Archived
504:11 April
498:Archived
454:Archived
409:See also
320:commando
204:سره قطعه
195:Red Unit
30:سره قطعه
24:Red Unit
1488:leaders
1349:History
1213:decrees
1174:Taliban
1107:Panipat
934:Loyal (
903:Reuters
868:10 June
796:10 June
785:Reuters
764:10 June
615:10 June
460:10 June
403:mujahid
269:Helmand
255:History
239:of the
231:Taliban
169:Notable
152:Current
44:Country
1594:Sharia
1536:Events
1379:Emblem
823:
719:lokmat
304:Kunduz
291:, and
261:Sangin
199:Pashto
71:Branch
36:Active
1384:Motto
1369:Jirga
1284:trips
1028:Corps
835:6 May
357:or a
228:, or
1428:Army
1374:Flag
942:Bonn
915:2017
870:2017
837:2021
821:ISSN
798:2017
766:2017
731:2021
701:2021
650:2018
617:2017
577:2018
539:2021
506:2020
462:2017
399:NATO
330:and
193:The
81:Type
391:BBC
336:VHF
247:or
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946:de
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