Russia Cornered, US Attempts to Recruit Abandoned Afghan Special Forces for Combat

Experience of Joint Training Between US Navy Special Forces and UK Special Air Service
Fallen into 'Defeated Soldiers' Status After Collapse of Pro-American Government in Afghanistan

Special forces members of Afghanistan during activities in 2021. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] After invading Ukraine and facing setbacks due to a shortage of troops, Russia is reportedly recruiting former Afghan special forces soldiers to join the Russian military.

On the 25th (local time), the U.S. foreign affairs media outlet Foreign Policy (FP) reported that the Russian private military company Wagner Group has offered former members of the Afghan Army Special Forces to participate in the Ukraine war through messenger apps such as WhatsApp and Signal.

The Afghan Special Forces have been an elite unit conducting counterterrorism operations against Sunni Islamist militant groups like the Taliban, training jointly with U.S. Navy SEALs and British Special Air Service for over 20 years. However, after the U.S. military withdrew and the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August last year, they have become remnants and are no longer active.

It is estimated that about 20,000 to 30,000 members are currently affiliated. However, with the collapse of Afghanistan’s pro-U.S. central government, hundreds of senior officers reportedly fled abroad to avoid Taliban reprisals. Thousands of regular soldiers are also believed to have fled to neighboring countries or are living in Afghanistan in hiding. A former soldier told FP, "We fought for the U.S. and the U.K. for 20 years, but now we live in hiding like prisoners."

In this situation, Russia is reportedly enticing these highly trained former soldiers to join the fight by offering high salaries. Citing a military source, FP reported, "The Afghan 'remnants' have no country, job, future, or anything to lose," adding, "Those who fled to Pakistan or Iran and earn $3 to $4 a day will not refuse Wagner’s offer of $1,000 per month."

FP analyzed, "If these highly skilled fighters are deployed to the Ukraine war, they could become a 'game changer' for the Russian military." If they join the Russian side, they could potentially reverse the unfavorable course of the war for Russia. However, a former Afghan Army captain mentioned the past when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and fought a decade-long war, stating that the soldiers would likely not respond to the offer to participate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.