Afghanistan "forest" camo uniform
In 2007, the former Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak found this vegetation based camo pattern on the internet and decided that the ANA forces should use it, even though Afghanistan is only 2.1% covered in forests. Lots of controversy surrounds this uniform choice because of how much money the U.S. government spent on buying "completely worthless" camouflage for a desert dominated country. Either way, it was designed in 2007, issued to soldiers in 2008, and is still in use today. In the beginning, some uniforms were made in China, but the Afghan government quickly began manufacturing them for themselves. The Afghan Army primarily uses this pattern, while the Afghan Army Commandos wear woodland BDU camo copies more often.
Below is an example of the pattern, dated 2009. It is in mint condition with green velcro. Some uniforms have blue velcro. The top left patch on the left sleeve is the Afghanistan Flag and the patch under it is for the ANA Commandos. The patch on the top right sleeve is the ANA Armed Forces patch, and the one under it is unknown.
Below is an example of the pattern, dated 2009. It is in mint condition with green velcro. Some uniforms have blue velcro. The top left patch on the left sleeve is the Afghanistan Flag and the patch under it is for the ANA Commandos. The patch on the top right sleeve is the ANA Armed Forces patch, and the one under it is unknown.