SUMMARY

The Forces of Arbab Basir is an organised militia loyal to the Afghan warlord of the same name. The militia has been employed in battle with other non-state groups to support the political goals of Arbab Basir in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

Arbab Basir, of Pashtun ethnicity, was a relatively small-scale Afghan warlord, whose forces were mainly active in the western parts of Afghanistan, namely the Herat and Farah provinces.

Not much is known about the strength of Basir’s forces, but they appear to be mainly Pashtuns from the Barekzai clan.

In terms of alliances Arbab Basir was viewed as being pro-government (i.e. supportive of Karzai’s central government in Kabul), but still retained close ties with Herat-strongman Ismail Khan, renowned for distancing himself from the central government.

Arbab Basir was killed in October 2006, allegedly by fighters loyal to rival warlord Amanullah Khan. Arbab’s son took revenge two weeks later, killing Amanullah Khan and his son in an ambush. Arbab’s son was however also killed in these clashes, and it is unclear who now controls these residual forces.

The Forces of Arbab Bashir have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised