He is believed to be the first special forces commander to
switch sides in the war, and had received U.S. training, according to Agence
France-Presse.
“He sent some of his comrades on leave and paid others to go
out sightseeing, and then escaped with up to 30 guns, night-vision goggles,
binoculars and a Humvee,” Shuja ul-Mulkh Jalala, the governor of Kunar,
told Reuters.
{mosads}A spokesman for Hezb-e-Islami confirmed Khan had joined the
group.
A manhunt is underway for the special forces commander,
according to Reuters, and tribal elders also promised to help.
“We are trying our best to use elders’ influence in
that area to bring back all equipment,” Jalala said.
The defection comes as Afghan and NATO forces deal with “insider
attacks,” where Afghan soldiers attack supposedly allied forces.
Insider attacks have complicated the U.S. and NATO hand-off of
security to the Afghans, which is scheduled to occur by the end of 2014.