The Pader Watan were local counter-guerrilla organizations employed by the Soviet Union and their ally the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). The first Pader Watan unit appeared in 1983, it is unclear if they were active before this.
| Pader-Watan | |
|---|---|
| پدر وطن | |
Members of the Pader-Watan, during a funeral procession, 1986
| |
| Leaders | Ismatullah Muslim |
| Dates of operation | 1983–1992 (Approximately) |
| Motives |
|
| Active regions | All of Afghanistan (Especially Balkh, Kandahar and Baghlan Provinces) |
| Ideology | Islamism (Some factions) Communism Sovietism |
| Size | 100,000+ |
| Allies |  Soviet Union
|
| Opponents |  Afghan Mujahideen Afghan Interim Government (from 1988) |
| Battles and wars | Soviet–Afghan War Afghan Civil War (1989-1992) |
The Pader Watan consisted of former mujahideen who defected to the DRA to form paramilitary units. The Pader Watan units assisted the Soviets by guarding key points along highways, and also providing protection to Soviet-DRA convoys, and watching out for night attacks, and infiltration by Mujahideen. They were referred to derisively as "Traitors in Turbans".[1]
