The CIA's Covert Paramilitary Presence In Afghanistan Much Larger Than Thought

COMMANDER MEETING - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, right, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, meets with U.K. Brig. Gen. George Norton, deputy commander of the 4th Mechanised Brigade, to discuss recent partnerships with the Afghanistan government and security forces during a visit to Regional Command Southwest in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 23, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Joshua Treadwell

U.S. Covert Paramilitary Presence In Afghanistan Much Larger Than Thought -- Washington Post

On an Afghan ridge 7,800 feet above sea level, about four miles from Pakistan, stands a mud-brick fortress nicknamed the Alamo. It is officially dubbed Firebase Lilley, and it is a nerve center in the covert war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

The CIA has relied on Lilley, part of a constellation of agency bases across Afghanistan, as a hub to train and deploy a well-armed 3,000-member Afghan paramilitary force collectively known as Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams. In addition to being used for surveillance, raids and combat operations in Afghanistan, the teams are crucial to the United States' secret war in Pakistan, according to current and former U.S. officials.

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More News On The CIA's Paramilitary Forces In Afghanistan/Pakistan

'US runs Afghan force to hunt militants in Pakistan' -- AFP
CIA runs 3,000-strong covert army to hunt down al-Qaida in Pakistan -- Times of India
Afghans fighting in covert force funded by CIA -- Dallas News/AP
US has 3000-strong crack squad in Afghanistan to wage its secret war in Pakistan -- Sify
CIA Snitches Are Pakistan Drone-Spotters -- The Danger Room
CIA drones killed U.S. citizens in Pakistan, book says -- Washington Post
A closer look at CIA-sponsored Afghan force -- Star Tribune
Woodward Book Details Secret Afghan Force -- NPR
‘Obama’s Wars’ and clandestine operations -- Reuters
Paramilitary force is key for CIA -- Washington Post