Sarandoy
Encyclopedia
The Sarandoy were a gendarme
police force of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
in the 1980s, during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
. They were administered by the Ministry of the Interior, and led by Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi. At one point, the Sarandoy held 115,000 men, compared to the Afghan Army's 160,000,while at other points the Sarandoy were said to exceed the Army.
The Sarandoy was subject to internal politics, as its forces were controlled by the Khalqi Communist faction, opposed to the Parchami communist faction which controlled the KhAD
intelligence services. Accordingly, the Sarandoy and the KhAD found battles against each other on occasion.
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
police force of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
in the 1980s, during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
. They were administered by the Ministry of the Interior, and led by Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi. At one point, the Sarandoy held 115,000 men, compared to the Afghan Army's 160,000,while at other points the Sarandoy were said to exceed the Army.
The Sarandoy was subject to internal politics, as its forces were controlled by the Khalqi Communist faction, opposed to the Parchami communist faction which controlled the KhAD
KHAD
Khadamat-e Etela'at-e Dawlati translates directly to English as: "Government Information Agency". However, this phrase is more correctly translated as Government Intelligence Service...
intelligence services. Accordingly, the Sarandoy and the KhAD found battles against each other on occasion.