Afghan officials: CIA supporting militia in east

Local officials in eastern Afghanistan say the CIA continues to run a shadow war there by training counterterrorism forces, known as the Khost Protection Force.

The secretive paramilitary unit was set up by the US Intelligence Agency to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Afghan officials, however, have accused the force of civilian killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and use of excessive force in night raids. Witness reports have revealed that American operatives were present during assaults where extreme force was used. The KPF is said to be more influential than the Afghan army and police in Khost province, and often acts outside normal chains of command. According to the Washington Post, the CIA is still directing the KPF operations, paying fighters’ salaries, and training and equipping them.

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