Afghanistan - Revision history

Admin1 at 04:06, 16 September 2026

2026-09-16T04:06:49Z

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns o`f the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan */

2026-09-16T03:05:05Z

Camouflage Patterns o`f the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Admin1 at 02:58, 16 September 2026

2026-09-16T02:58:02Z

Admin1 at 02:54, 16 September 2026

2026-09-16T02:54:04Z

Admin1 at 02:26, 16 September 2026

2026-09-16T02:26:31Z

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2026-09-16T02:22:34Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2026-08-28T23:59:25Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-11-05T13:06:25Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-11-05T13:05:58Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan */

2025-09-27T15:35:44Z

Camouflage Patterns of Afghanistan

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 The Taliban (طالبان) siezed control of Kabul in September of 1996 (aided by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the assistance of independent Arab sources), creating the Taliban Emirate. In reaction, two former rival leaders combined their forces into the United Front (Northern Alliance), and waged its own guerilla war against the Taliban. Following the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, the [[USA]] led a coalition of nations to invade the country, ostensibly to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and destroy the Al-Qaeda training facilities believed to exist in Afghanistan. Working with the Northern Alliance, coalition forces toppled the Taliban regime, and became embroiled in the Afghanistan War, part of which was known as Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which was officially declared over in 2014. From 2002 onwards, the country was declared the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت), and was reputedly in the process of being rebuilt along progressive, Western standards. However, the conflict with Taliban insurgents continued unabetted for twenty years, as more and more coalition personnel withdrew from the country, leading to final withdrawal of all NATO troops (including Americans) beginning in May 2021. Following a major Taliban offensive in summer 2021, the Taliban once again seized control of the majority of the country, including power centers such as Kabul, leaving many Afghans in a desperate scramble to leave the country. By August 16/17 2021, a "Coordination Council" began the process of transferring all national assets and power to the Taliban. Even as this transition began, a new coalition of anti-Taliban combatants (the Panjshir Resistance, or National Resistance Front of Afghanistan) was forged in the Panjshir, Parwan, and Baghlan provinces of the country, claiming to represent the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and vowing to wage a new war against the Taliban.
-Formed under Coalition guidance, the armed forces of Afghanistan consisted of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Air Force (ANAF). Paramilitary forces included the Afghan National Police (ANP) and the Afghan Border Police. Dedicated special operations units existed within most branches. The newly formed Taliban government remains in the transition stages and cannot be said to have control of a properly trained and dedicated armed force.
+Formed under Coalition guidance, from 2001 until 2021 the Armed Forces of Afghanistan consisted of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Air Force (ANAF). Paramilitary forces included the Afghan National Police (ANP) and the Afghan Border Police. Dedicated special operations units existed within most branches. Beginning in November 2021, the armed forces were renamed the Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (د افغانستان اسلامي), also known as Islamic National Army, and the Afghan Air Force, both of which are largely outfitted with military equipment leftover from the previous government, and including state-of-the art vehicles and some aircraft, as well as small arms and larger caliber weapons. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (وزارت امور داخله افغانستان) also has its own paramilitary forces, including standard law enforcement and special operations forces.
 Afghanistan has never had a thriving textile industry, so most of its military uniforms were either imported or locally-produced from imported fabrics. Camouflage is no exception. Originally the province of commando and airborne units, camouflage is now commonplace among all units of the ANA. Most contemporary uniforms are imported from Chinese factories and constructed to professional standards.
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 == Camouflage Patterns of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan ==
 * One of the oldest documented camouflage patterns issued to Afghan troops is a tricolor "blotch" design, similar in many aspects to the old Italian Army m1929 ''telo mimetico.'' These were worn by the Commando brigades from 1974 into the 1980s, and produced locally from fabric printed in-country. Surviving examples exhibit a wide range of color combinations, from bright orange to dark russet, and olive green to a medium shade of brown, with a khaki base color.
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 * This three-color camouflage design, probably the same design as worn by the Nigerian Air Force in the 2010s, also appeared among elements of 313 Badri Battalion in beginning in August 2021.

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 == Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ==
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 Much of the territory now known as Afghanistan was known as Khorasan during the Middle Ages and into the 19th century. Much of the region has been traditionally inhabited by tribal cultures, with their own distinctive languages, customs and spiritual values, although there were some major cities such as Herat and Balkh. The region was overrun by Mongols during the 13th century, marking the beginning of several centuries of dynasties and contending powers vying for control of the territories.
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 * The newly formed Afghan National Army (ANA) was short on supplies for several years, and received assistance from both coalition member nations and friendly neighbors like [[Iran]]. The [[woodland]] camouflage pattern seen here is one such Iranian-sourced design.

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-* From the late 1980s to early 1990s, Soviet-style uniforms in the 1980 TTsKO tricolor pattern were provided to some Afghan units by the [[USSR|Soviet Union]].
+* Circa 1980-85, the DRA Commandos wore a derivative of the [[duck hunter]] camouflage design seen here. Although locally-made, the fabric itself was reputedly printed in the Soviet Union for export.
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 * For a brief period, the ''Jamiat-I-Islami mujaheddin'' (anti-Communist insurgents) wore uniforms made from imported Pakistani [[brushstroke]] fabric. They did not retain the uniforms long, however, as it was determined the wearing of camouflage created too great a likelihood of being mistaken for Soviet or Afghan government troops.

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 * Following the unification of [[East Germany]] and [[Germany]], the international military surplus market was flooded with equipment from the former German Democratic Republic, including significant quantities of ''strichtarn'' or [[rain]] pattern camouflage uniforms. A number of these uniforms made their way into Afghanistan, ending up in the hands of mujahideen groups and the Northern Alliance around 1996.
-[[File:ddr2.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]
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		+	* Following the unification of [[East Germany]] and [[Germany]], the international military surplus market was flooded with equipment from the former German Democratic Republic, including significant quantities of ''strichtarn'' or [[rain]] pattern camouflage uniforms. A number of these uniforms made their way into Afghanistan, ending up in the hands of mujahideen groups and the Northern Alliance around 1996.
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		+	[[File:ddr2.jpg\|200px]]
		+	[[File:afghanistan-strichtarn.png\|200px]]

	* The Northern Alliance were supported and supplied by several Western sources. Although outfitted with whatever gear was available, this [[lizard]] pattern was quite prolific with the group in 2001 when the Taliban regime was overthrown. Uniforms in this pattern were imported from China.		* The Northern Alliance were supported and supplied by several Western sources. Although outfitted with whatever gear was available, this [[lizard]] pattern was quite prolific with the group in 2001 when the Taliban regime was overthrown. Uniforms in this pattern were imported from China.

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-* From the mid-1990s until the Taliban government toppled in 2001, a variety of camouflage patterns could be found scattered amongst Afghan government troops. Most of these were locally-produced to Afghan standards from fabrics imported from [[Pakistan]], [[China]] or [[Iran]]. The brown [[duck hunter]] spot pattern seen below is believed to have been worn by both Taliban government and Northern Alliance combatants.
+* From the mid-1990s until the Taliban government toppled in 2001, a variety of camouflage patterns could be found scattered amongst Afghan government troops, as well as Northern Alliance factions. Most of these uniforms were locally-produced to Afghan standards from fabrics imported from [[Pakistan]], [[China]], [[Iran]], or (possibly, in the case of the NA,) [[India]]. The brown [[duck hunter]] spot pattern seen below is believed to have been worn by both Taliban government and Northern Alliance combatants.
 [[File:afghan3.jpg|200px]]