The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

13.07.2015 Views

evolution and kill the president if you are unable to do anything good for your country? Whereare your “reforms” and changes for the better?’ Then the unmasking of fools, searching for evil,attempts to clarify the cause of failed expectations will begin. Then they will start pointing fingersand blaming one another. Then they will start fighting each other, and everyone will lose. Theirlosses will also be a loss for the USSR, because the next regime will not forgive the Soviets for theirrelationship with the PDPA. The influence of the United States, along with other unfriendlycountries to the USSR, will grow in Afghanistan. Besides, Soviet friends in developing countrieswill stop trusting us.“During our conversation, Marik expressed his admiration for the pilots who bombed theArk. He suggested, referring to the American military attaché, that the pilots were not Afghans, butRussians. I told him, ‘believe me, those were Afghan pilots. We can train not only Afghans to flysuch planes, but also Americans. Send your pilots for training in the USSR. But they will have tojoin the Communist Party of the United States of America in that case, and they will have to give anoath of allegiance to “international communism.’” Marik didn’t appreciate my humor—he was toodrunk.”The analyst picked up another report. It read:“I met with Ashraf Khan, the landlord of the house that I rent near the embassy. AshrafKhan is one of the leaders of the Ahmadzai tribe. He is married to Suraya, a daughter of a formerAfghan ambassador to the United States, who is also the adopted daughter of the army chief ofstaff, Colonel General Farouk. Ashraf Khan studied in Czechoslovakia. Former rulers ofAfghanistan, the king and Daoud, knew the parents of Ashraf Khan and his relatives. Theyrespected his family for their noble origin and good nature. Ashraf Khan served in the military forsome time. He reached the rank of either captain or major. Now he works as the head of the102

department in the Ministry of Planning. He is not concerned about his career. Work in thegovernment is not more than an affiliation for him. He owns an enormous amount of land and isvery wealthy. His wealth comes from many hectares of fertile lands around Kabul and wineries inthe region of Koh-e Daman, and in other places. Amir of Afghanistan Amanullah Khan made a giftto his father of a huge tract of land near the Tajbek Palace, where Ashraf Khan now resides in avilla. Ashraf speaks very good Czech and Russian. He loves the Soviet Union. He often travels toMoscow to buy things for his son, Aziz. He thinks that Soviet goods for children are the best in theworld.“This morning he visited me to find out how I was faring after yesterday’s events. During ashort conversation that I imposed on him (he is quite reserved, not a very talkative man), Ashrafsaid the following:‘Taraki and those Pashtuns who, along with that PDPA leader, committed coup d’etatyesterday, do not belong to the Afghan aristocracy. They do not have close ties with tribal leaders.Normally Pashtuns, even those not of the most noble origin, know at least seven generations oftheir ancestors. Does Nur Mohammad Taraki know his ancestors, at least three generations back?Hardly. And if he knows them, can he be proud of them? Hardly. Who are they, his ancestors?Slaves, beggars, cattle herders, laborers.‘Pashtun tribes always dictated politics in Afghanistan,’ Ashraf said. ‘Only those who arerecognized by them can rule. The tribal leaders make decisions. But the Pashtun elite wouldhardly support the new authorities. That would mean that the new rulers will hardly be supportedby commoners.‘I studied Marxism-Leninism in Czechoslovakia,’ said Ashraf Khan, ‘and I should say, I wasvery adept at it. I passed my exams very well. I know that Taraki, believing the “class struggle”103

evolution and kill the president if you are unable <strong>to</strong> do anything good for your country? Whereare your “reforms” and changes for the better?’ <strong>The</strong>n the unmasking of fools, searching for evil,attempts <strong>to</strong> clarify the cause of failed expectations will begin. <strong>The</strong>n they will start pointing fingersand blaming one another. <strong>The</strong>n they will start fighting each other, and everyone will lose. <strong>The</strong>irlosses will also be a loss for the USSR, because the next regime will not forgive the Soviets for theirrelationship with the PDPA. <strong>The</strong> influence of the United States, along with other unfriendlycountries <strong>to</strong> the USSR, will grow in <strong>Afghanistan</strong>. Besides, Soviet friends in developing countrieswill s<strong>to</strong>p trusting us.“During our conversation, Marik expressed his admiration for the pilots who bombed theArk. He suggested, referring <strong>to</strong> the American military attaché, that the pilots were not Afghans, butRussians. I <strong>to</strong>ld him, ‘believe me, those were Afghan pilots. We can train not only Afghans <strong>to</strong> flysuch planes, but also Americans. Send your pilots for training in the USSR. But they will have <strong>to</strong>join the Communist Party of the United States of America in that case, and they will have <strong>to</strong> give anoath of allegiance <strong>to</strong> “international communism.’” Marik didn’t appreciate my humor—he was <strong>to</strong>odrunk.”<strong>The</strong> analyst picked up another report. It read:“I met with Ashraf Khan, the landlord of the house that I rent near the embassy. AshrafKhan is one of the leaders of the Ahmadzai tribe. He is married <strong>to</strong> Suraya, a daughter of a formerAfghan ambassador <strong>to</strong> the United States, who is also the adopted daughter of the army chief ofstaff, Colonel General Farouk. Ashraf Khan studied in Czechoslovakia. Former rulers of<strong>Afghanistan</strong>, the king and Daoud, knew the parents of Ashraf Khan and his relatives. <strong>The</strong>yrespected his family for their noble origin and good nature. Ashraf Khan served in the military forsome time. He reached the rank of either captain or major. Now he works as the head of the102

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