The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

to report about your meeting? Sarwari himself?” Petrov responded innocently.A white Toyota Crown was parked at the square in front of the Soviet embassy. A tall, heavyyoung man in a wrinkled suit with a kind, intelligent face sat in the driver’s seat. “Funny how thisAfghan looks like our movie director Eldar Ryazanov,” thought Ivan Ivanovich. While Ershovexited the embassy, the Afghan quickly leapt from the car. He saluted Ershov in the British mannerand introduced himself with a booming voice. “Pilot Assadullah Sarwari.” Then he opened the backdoor of the car and invited Ivan Ivanovich in.“Comrade Ivan Ivanovich, is this meeting being held too late for you?” asked Sarwari asthey drove in the darkness along Darul Aman Road towards the center of the city. “Comrade Aminsaid that I should meet you as soon as possible in order to resolve all the issues of establishingcooperation in security-related affairs.”“Don’t worry about anything,” responded Ershov. “In our work we should not be concernedwith keeping a regular schedule.”“That was the sense that I got!” laughed Assadullah Sarwari happily.When they reached his office, Sarwari offered Ivan Ivanovich tea with nuts and raisins. Hementioned that he could arrange kebabs, whiskey, or vatani * . They decided to stick with tea.Ershov, trying to recall the words and expressions in Dari that were used by Alexei Petrov duringtheir conversation with Amin, explained to Sarwari the essence of the Soviet proposal regardingcollaboration between their special services. Sarwari, knowing Amin’s attitude toward this matter,was thrilled. However, he had no idea what he should say or do from this point on. Ivan Ivanovichdescribed a set of documents that both sides needed to prepare and sign. He offered to draft a jointplan of activities for the next two months, to consider the staff needs for the future security* Afghan moonshine, produced by Bukhara Jews living in Kabul. It resembles Georgian chacha.129