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

favor, and inquired as to the nature of Ershov’s assignment in Kabul. “Yuri Vladimirovichpersonally tasked me to come here,” Ershov informed the ambassador with a tone of significancein his voice. He spoke quietly and mysteriously.After the meeting, Ivan Ivanovich went upstairs to the familiar quarters of the KGB KabulResidency. Alexei Petrov sat there smoking and waiting for Ershov’s arrival. Ivan Ivanovichbeckoned him to the corridor so their conversation would be private. He tasked Alexei, referringto the assignment of the Center, with arranging his meeting with Taraki and Amin as soon aspossible.Ivan Ivanovich’s respect was directed not so much at people, but at their high positions,and he now wanted to be received by the new leaders of the country. Petrov understood the taskright away and left to make arrangements for the meeting. Ivan Ivanovich began to prepare for theimportant rendezvous, periodically instructing members of the group that arrived with him.However, the meeting had still not been arranged after several days. Alexei Petrov swore toErshov that he had reminded Taraki and Amin of Andropov’s representative’s request. However,citing busy schedules, they continued to postpone the meeting. Finally, on the fourth day, Alexeiexcitedly told Ershov that the colonel could meet with Amin in the TASS office.“And what about Taraki?” asked Ershov.“Ivan Ivanovich, he has a completely different status now,” replied Alexei meekly. “He isnow the head of a sovereign state. To tell you the truth, I simply cannot get in touch with himdirectly.”Earlier, during the years of his work in Kabul as a resident, Ershov met Taraki and Amin inthe TASS office quite often. At the time, he didn’t take them entirely seriously. The Khalqisthemselves didn’t treat the Soviet resident particularly favorably. They didn’t like him due to a126

number of reasons, mostly because of his stuffiness, tense mannerisms, and obvious lack ofsincerity. He seemed to them like a flop who didn’t care if he fulfilled his promises.Now Amin was the minister of foreign affairs and the vice chairman of the government.Things had changed. Petrov brought Amin to the meeting at the TASS office. Ivan Ivanovich waitedfor the newly minted leader sitting on a sofa in the hall. Seeing his “Russian friend,” Amin, flashinghis American-style smile, dashed towards him. He grabbed Ershov’s palm with two hands,squeezed and shook it, murmuring words of the traditional Afghan greeting for an awkward spellof time. He then hugged Ivan Ivanovich by the waist and pulled him to a special meeting room—aspace for confidential conversations that was very familiar to Amin. He also passed along warmwishes and sincere greetings from Comrade Taraki and relayed Taraki’s regrets that lack of timeprecluded him from meeting with his “old friend.”Sitting in the room, where a simple meal was served, Amin seemed extremely focused. IvanIvanovich thought that little had changed in his relationship with Amin. He took a shot of vodka,leaned against the back of his armchair, and began to vaguely describe the essence of the issuethat he wanted to resolve during their meeting. Amin listened attentively, but obviously couldn’tunderstand what Ershov was talking about. He failed to hide his boredom. Then Alexei Petrov,politely securing Ivanov’s permission to add to what was said earlier, intervened. Quickly andsuccinctly, he explained the gist of the issue. “We would like to establish cooperation along thelines of intelligence and counterintelligence on the state level with the Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan. We would like to exchange secret information with you. We can send our advisers toyou. They will teach the operatives of your special services how to work under difficultconditions.”Amin paused to think. He asked, “How can we resolve the financial aspect of this issue?”127

favor, and inquired as <strong>to</strong> the nature of Ershov’s assignment in Kabul. “Yuri Vladimirovichpersonally tasked me <strong>to</strong> come here,” Ershov informed the ambassador with a <strong>to</strong>ne of significancein his voice. He spoke quietly and mysteriously.After the meeting, Ivan Ivanovich went upstairs <strong>to</strong> the familiar quarters of the KGB KabulResidency. Alexei Petrov sat there smoking and waiting for Ershov’s arrival. Ivan Ivanovichbeckoned him <strong>to</strong> the corridor so their conversation would be private. He tasked Alexei, referring<strong>to</strong> the assignment of the Center, with arranging his meeting with Taraki and Amin as soon aspossible.Ivan Ivanovich’s respect was directed not so much at people, but at their high positions,and he now wanted <strong>to</strong> be received by the new leaders of the country. Petrov unders<strong>to</strong>od the taskright away and left <strong>to</strong> make arrangements for the meeting. Ivan Ivanovich began <strong>to</strong> prepare for theimportant rendezvous, periodically instructing members of the group that arrived with him.However, the meeting had still not been arranged after several days. Alexei Petrov swore <strong>to</strong>Ershov that he had reminded Taraki and Amin of Andropov’s representative’s request. However,citing busy schedules, they continued <strong>to</strong> postpone the meeting. Finally, on the fourth day, Alexeiexcitedly <strong>to</strong>ld Ershov that the colonel could meet with Amin in the TASS office.“And what about Taraki?” asked Ershov.“Ivan Ivanovich, he has a completely different status now,” replied Alexei meekly. “He isnow the head of a sovereign state. To tell you the truth, I simply cannot get in <strong>to</strong>uch with himdirectly.”Earlier, during the years of his work in Kabul as a resident, Ershov met Taraki and Amin inthe TASS office quite often. At the time, he didn’t take them entirely seriously. <strong>The</strong> Khalqisthemselves didn’t treat the Soviet resident particularly favorably. <strong>The</strong>y didn’t like him due <strong>to</strong> a126

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!