Bacha Khan Zadran was appointed governor of Paktia province, Afghanistan briefly in December 2001, but he was asked to step down after local officials, backed by their own militia, refused to allow him to enter the province capital and take office.

Since his removal of office, his forces who have allied themselves with U.S troops in some military operations. They have also attempted repeatedly to take territory for their own.

Authorities in Kabul allege that Zadran has also set up checkpoints in Paktia and Khost provinces, for the purpose of extorting money from travellers.