A senior Afghan commander on Thursday said National Directorate of Security’s (NDS) special forces have stepped up the number of night raids as they target Taliban insurgents in various regions across the country. 

According to the special forces’ commander, Ezatullah, this included a recent raid in Sarkano district of Kunar to hunt down a key Taliban commander. 

He said a number of Taliban fighters had been arrested, but that particular commander managed to escape. 

Ezatullah said night raids play a critical role in the fight against insurgents and that the special forces under his command can carry out up to four night raids a week. 

However, ensuring the safety of civilians was crucial to them, he said.  

“You must be very careful about the lives of the civilians during these operations,” he said while briefing his forces ahead of one such operation. 

“You must treat the women and the children very kindly and make sure that innocent people are not harmed,” he said. 

This particular operation was launched in Barogi village of Sarkano district. The operation was aimed at arresting the Taliban commander – but he escaped. 

“We are fully equipped with advanced technology and weapons and conduct the nighttime operations very professionally,” said one special forces solider. 

“We will defend our nation and our country till the last drop of our blood,” said another soldier.

Afghan security forces have for the past three years been carrying out night raids independently.