Fear of the Islamic State spawns a renegade Afghan mili

Some veteran guerrillas are arming themselves against a perceived threat from the Islamic State.

In Mazar-e-Sharif, members of a militia called Margh, or Death, don ninja-style uniforms in the colors of the Afghan flag. Though the group’s proclaimed enemy is the Islamic State, some observers fear they will lead to vigilantism or warlordism, eroding support for the government in Kabul. Andrew Quilty/Oculi/For The Washington Post

By Sudarsan Raghavan February 24 at 8:21 PM

MAZAR-E SHARIF, Afghanistan — The 25 men who gathered last week in a poor enclave of this ancient city bore the scars of a lifetime of war. One lost four fingers fighting Taliban militants. Another lost his right leg fighting the Soviets. Now, seated in a bare room on a cold morning, they declared readiness to make even greater sacrifices against a new enemy: the Islamic State.
Fear of the Islamic State Spawns a Renegade Afghan Militia by Thavam Ratna