The Taliban have begun attacking security forces across Afghanistan with night-vision goggles and lasers. The improvement of this once ill-equipped band has forced a revision of the limited access allowed the Afghan security forces to use night-vision goggles by American commanders. They worry about lethal consequences. The American military has begun to send older models of night vision hardware to Afghan Army units. However, Afghan security forces face a technological disadvantage as they are mostly denied this expensive equipment. The headsets and infrared lasers were initially only given to elite Afghan commandos and police special mission units, says the American military in Kabul. This was intentionally done to prevent possible corruption among forces.
U.S. military officials say the high-tech equipment were either bought on the black market or stolen from Afghan and International troops. Using these devices, the Taliban can track the bedtime movements of local police officers, infrared lasers on American rifles and the whirling blades of coalition helicopters. A U.S. military official who described internal Pentagon data as long as he remained anonymous has said, nighttime attacks from 2014 to 2017 also doubled and the number of Afghans wounded or killed during the attacks nearly tripled.
Infantry units on patrols have been told not to use certain marking devices that can be seen only by night vision equipment. Helicopter crews have also been made aware of their crafts visibility at night.
