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

During the meeting, the issues of Afghanistan’s future development were discussed. Tarakisaid that from now on the country would develop in a socialist and communist way, and that itwould reflect the wishes of the Afghan people. Puzanov, with the intention to cool down therevolutionary fervor of his interlocutor, mentioned that such a goal would involve quite a lengthyhistorical phase, considering the peculiarities of Afghan society. Taraki seemed offended by thatremark.“No,” he said. “We will reach communism possibly even earlier than the Soviet Union. TheAfghan people already lean towards communism because of their national traditions. All we needto do is to merge Afghan tradition with Marxist-Leninist philosophy.”Puzanov understood that the discussion of the merger of Afghan tradition and Marxism-Leninism would hardly be constructive. This is why, keeping in mind the instructions of the CPSUCentral Committee, he expressed his concern about possible reprisals against representatives ofthe former regime. Taraki asked, “Reprisals against whom? Which representatives of the formerregime? Who can you name, specifically? Who must not be persecuted? Tell us specifically and wewill take your opinion into consideration.” The Soviet ambassador didn’t expect such a turn in theconversation, and proceeded to propose a toast to Taraki’s health and the success of the newAfghan regime.They parted very warmly.***On May 1, 1978, one hour before midnight, the colonel of Counterintelligence, Ivan Ershov,was brought to Sheremetevo Airport by a government car. He was leading a group that wastraveling with him to Afghanistan. The colonel had met the people in the group just a few hoursago, first at the reception area and then at the office of the chairman of the KGB. The group120

consisted of an operative from the Second KGB Directorate (Counterintelligence), an operativefrom the Ninth KGB Directorate (Physical Protection of Members of Politburo), an operative fromthe Seventh KGB Directorate (Outside Observation), and an operative of the Fourth Directorate(Technical Operative Support). When Andropov set forth the tasks and asked if everything wasclear, everyone remained silent. Nobody expressed any doubt or asked to clarify anything. Now, inthe airplane, some started to raise questions.One of Ivan Ivanovich’s colleagues, a tall junior colonel with dark, curly hair, quietlyhummed a song from a popular cartoon. He moved a tipsy colleague from the Ninth Directorate,who sat next to Ershov, to a seat across the aisle. Then he sat next to the boss.“Ivan Ivanovich, as you are not sleeping, may I disturb you? Please tell me, what should mymission be in Kabul? Where shall I begin? To what should I pay particular attention? To tell youthe truth, I am a bit anxious. I would like to be worthy of the trust that was bestowed upon me.”Ershov liked what he heard. The officer, from the very beginning, seemed nice, reliable, andconcerned about the success of the operation. “This one will not sleep, will not eat, and will stayfocused, ensuring that things will work out,” thought Ivan Ivanovich. He started to instruct theofficer: “An enormous amount of work is ahead of us. We will have to build efficient and powerfulmodern special services from the ground up. The new Afghan regime will have to fight againstmany enemies. These will be first the CIA and the intelligence services of NATO countries, as wellas the Iranian special services, SAVAK. The Islamic fundamentalists, who are based in Pakistan andAfghan provinces, will certainly begin to fight against the new regime, as well as those whose classinterests will be affected during the forthcoming progressive reforms. Lenin, as you remember,used to say, ‘The revolution that cannot defend itself is a bad revolution.’“Until now, Afghanistan has not had intelligence and counterintelligence services as state121

During the meeting, the issues of <strong>Afghanistan</strong>’s future development were discussed. Tarakisaid that from now on the country would develop in a socialist and communist way, and that itwould reflect the wishes of the Afghan people. Puzanov, with the intention <strong>to</strong> cool down therevolutionary fervor of his interlocu<strong>to</strong>r, mentioned that such a goal would involve quite a lengthyhis<strong>to</strong>rical phase, considering the peculiarities of Afghan society. Taraki seemed offended by thatremark.“No,” he said. “We will reach communism possibly even earlier than the Soviet Union. <strong>The</strong>Afghan people already lean <strong>to</strong>wards communism because of their national traditions. All we need<strong>to</strong> do is <strong>to</strong> merge Afghan tradition with Marxist-Leninist philosophy.”Puzanov unders<strong>to</strong>od that the discussion of the merger of Afghan tradition and Marxism-Leninism would hardly be constructive. This is why, keeping in mind the instructions of the CPSUCentral Committee, he expressed his concern about possible reprisals against representatives ofthe former regime. Taraki asked, “Reprisals against whom? Which representatives of the formerregime? Who can you name, specifically? Who must not be persecuted? Tell us specifically and wewill take your opinion in<strong>to</strong> consideration.” <strong>The</strong> Soviet ambassador didn’t expect such a turn in theconversation, and proceeded <strong>to</strong> propose a <strong>to</strong>ast <strong>to</strong> Taraki’s health and the success of the newAfghan regime.<strong>The</strong>y parted very warmly.***On May 1, 1978, one hour before midnight, the colonel of Counterintelligence, Ivan Ershov,was brought <strong>to</strong> Sheremetevo Airport by a government car. He was leading a group that wastraveling with him <strong>to</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong>. <strong>The</strong> colonel had met the people in the group just a few hoursago, first at the reception area and then at the office of the chairman of the KGB. <strong>The</strong> group120

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