National Directorate of Security
The National Directorate of Security (NDS; Pashto: د ملي امنیت لوی ریاست; Dari: ریاست عمومی امنیت ملی) was the national intelligence and security service of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The headquarters of the NDS was in Kabul, and it had field offices and training facilities in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. The NDS was part of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
| Pashto: د ملي امنیت لوی ریاست Dari: ریاست عمومی امنیت ملی | |
Seal of the National Directorate of Security | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2002 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Dissolved | 2021 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Headquarters | Kabul, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
| Employees | Classified, estimated to have 15,000 to 30,000 agents. |
| Annual budget | Classified |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | Official twitter |
The NDS was mandated to investigate cases and incidents that affect Afghan national security and to fight terrorism. According to the Law on Crimes against Internal and External Security of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the agency was tasked to investigate cases involving "national treason, espionage, terrorism, sabotage, propaganda against the Government, war propaganda, assisting enemy forces, and organised activity against internal and external security".
As the primary intelligence organ of Afghanistan, the NDS shared information about regional terrorism and major crimes with the Afghan ministries and provincial governors.
Its activities were regulated according to the National Security Law.