The CIA created, controls and pays for a clandestine 3,000-man paramilitary army of local Afghans, known as Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams. Woodward describes these teams as elite, well-trained units that conduct highly sensitive covert operations into Pakistan as part of a stepped-up campaign against al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban havens there.
When NPR asked a US official familiar with operations in Afghanistan he confirmed the existence of these "Counter-terrorism Pursuit Teams" and said: "This is one of the best Afghan fighting forces and it's made major contributions to stability and security."
Separately, an advisor to the US military also confirmed the existence of such a paramilitary force and that they were conducting some missions across the border in Pakistan.
Amid ongoing disruptions to maritime shipping in the Middle East due to the closure of the...
