Afghan jihadist camp

History

Afghan training camps have been functioning for decades. It is believed that several thousand camps were established throughout Afghanistan in the 1980s for training the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War. These camps have historically not only provided militant and physical training but also an extensive training and devotion to Islamic history and faith.

Training was also originally provided by seasoned veterans of other armed forces around the world. For example, Osama bin Laden once opened a camp for non-Afghan fighters that was led by two former Egyptian servicemen.

Curriculum

While in attendance at these camps, the majority of the recruits’ work revolves around physical training and spiritual devotion. While physical training is important to some operations, theology seems to be the most important task during training. Recruits are asked to memorize sacred texts and engage in prayer throughout the day's activities.

Recruits also learn to operate weapons, how to produce explosives and poisons, vehicle driving and maintenance, basic engineering, farming and urban guerilla tactics. In addition to these trainings recruits are also subject to mazes, obstacle courses, trenches, and classroom lectures.

Admission to camps

According to captured documents, there are guidelines that recruits must satisfy before entering the camp. First, trainees are screened. They are evaluated on ethnicity, their devotion, and their willingness to fight. One entrance form states that recruits must leave behind all valuables, not prepare food while in the camp, obey regulations, and certify that they are in good health for training. The entrance form also asks recruits about their prior military and combat experience.

Secrecy is of the utmost importance, so it is common for the recruits inside the camp not to know fellow recruits’ or instructors’ names. In most cases, the recruits at these camps do not actually know the location of their camp. Trainees are also always kept in small groups of 7 to 10. Camps are also generally located in a desolate area, suitable for militant training, and physical training. One document also notes the camps usually have few entrances and exits.

Known locations of Afghan training camps

References

References

1. (2005). "Afghanistan and the Genesis of Global Jihad". Peace Research.
2. Post, Jerrold. (2004). "Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: THE AL-QAEDA TRAINING MANUAL". USAF Counterproliferation Center.
3. Forest, James. (2006). "The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training and Root Causes". Praeger Security International.
4. "Camp Acceptance Requirements".
5. Brynjar Lia, ''Architect of Global Jihad: The Life of Al-Qaida Strategist Abu Mus'ab al-Suri'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=WJefraeEKs4C&dq=brynjar+lia+khalden+camp&pg=PA242 pg. 242–243], Columbia University Press, 2008
6. Brachman, Jarret. (June 2008). "2008 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics". IEEE.
7. McCarthy, Rory. (November 16, 2001). "Inside Bin Laden's Chemical Bunker".
8. (June 2017). "Islamic State has training camps in Afghan east, says police chief". BBC Monitoring South Asia.
9. Fargona, Haqiqati. (July 2005). "Regional Paper Prints Uzbek youth's account of training in Afghan Camp". BBC Monitoring Central Asia.
10. (March 2017). "Terrorists set up camps in Afghan Sar-e Pul Province". BBC Monitoring South Asia.
11. Lamothe, Dan. (October 30, 2015). "'Probably the largest' al-Qaeda training camps ever destroyed in Afghanistan".
12. Bill Roggio. (March 30, 2005). "Exodus and Ascent". The Long War Journal.
13. (June 2014). "The War between ISIS and al-Qaeda for Supremacy of the Global Jihadist Movement". [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]].