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

the April Revolution.”The minister of the interior went back to Karmal. Karmal was furious. His face darkened.“What should we do?” asked Nur.“What can we do? You cannot approve the appointment of your cadres without thesignature of the prime minister. Taraki will not sign it without Amin’s approval. You have no wayout.”While the second-ranking official in the PDPA and the state was ignored, the head of theForeign Ministry was enjoying notoriety as the “Hero of the Revolution.” Hafizullah Amin, who hadbeen a little-known operative of the PDPA until recently, had suddenly reached celebrity status.When members of foreign press corps wanted to interview representatives of the government ofAfghanistan, their questions would be answered solely by Comrade Amin. He was always ready topersonally meet with anyone, regardless of the status of the foreigner or the importance of theissue. He managed to attend all of the public gatherings and participated in all of the public events.His face was constantly smiling in the front pages of Afghan newspapers. He was always by theside of the leader, “great Comrade Taraki.”Once, in May, on a Friday, which is a day off in Afghanistan, Amin called the Soviet embassyusing a regular city line. The operator, who did not know Farsi, did not understand who wascalling and what the purpose of the call was. Fortunately, Budrin, the deputy director of the SovietCultural Center and an expert on the Orient, happened to be walking by when the operator handedhim the receiver and asked him to “talk with the foreigner.”“This is Hafizullah Amin, the first deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs ofthe Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Hello, Comrade!” said the voice in the receiver. “I wastrying to reach the office of Mr. Puzanov, but there was no answer.”156

“Hello, Comrade Amin. I am the deputy director of the Cultural Center of the USSR inAfghanistan, Ruslan Budrin.”“Comrade Ruslan, I need to talk with your ambassador. I would like to make arrangementsto meet with him as soon as possible. Can you arrange our meeting?”Budrin covered the phone with his hand and asked the operator, “Where is the ambassadornow?”“He went fishing in Naglu. He’ll be back in the evening.”“Comrade Amin, our ambassador is currently not at his residence. He is inspecting one ofthe important sites of Soviet-Afghan cooperation in the southeast of Kabul. Most probably he willarrive in the second half of the day,” Budrin interpreted the operator’s information.“Comrade Ruslan, could you give me a call right after the ambassador returns? Please, writedown my phone number. I will be working at my office and will await his return to the embassy.”After dictating the phone number, Amin decided to continue the conversation with Budrin.“Comrade Ruslan, how did you perceive our revolution?”“I think that the April Revolution can become the decisive step towards the expeditiousmovement of Afghanistan in building a new, progressive society,” responded Budrin, who was wellversed in the political jargon and spoke with great confidence.“Why did you use the word ‘can’? Does this indicate that you have some doubts regardingour intentions or the creative potential of the PDPA?”“No, Comrade Amin! I used the word can because I understand how powerful the feudalreaction inside your country can be, and how vicious can be the response of internationalimperialist circles. They will do everything possible to stop the development of Afghanistantowards progress, democracy, and socialism. I think you and your comrades have a lot of work to157

“Hello, Comrade Amin. I am the deputy direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Cultural Center of the USSR in<strong>Afghanistan</strong>, Ruslan Budrin.”“Comrade Ruslan, I need <strong>to</strong> talk with your ambassador. I would like <strong>to</strong> make arrangements<strong>to</strong> meet with him as soon as possible. Can you arrange our meeting?”Budrin covered the phone with his hand and asked the opera<strong>to</strong>r, “Where is the ambassadornow?”“He went fishing in Naglu. He’ll be back in the evening.”“Comrade Amin, our ambassador is currently not at his residence. He is inspecting one ofthe important sites of Soviet-Afghan cooperation in the southeast of Kabul. Most probably he willarrive in the second half of the day,” Budrin interpreted the opera<strong>to</strong>r’s information.“Comrade Ruslan, could you give me a call right after the ambassador returns? Please, writedown my phone number. I will be working at my office and will await his return <strong>to</strong> the embassy.”After dictating the phone number, Amin decided <strong>to</strong> continue the conversation with Budrin.“Comrade Ruslan, how did you perceive our revolution?”“I think that the April Revolution can become the decisive step <strong>to</strong>wards the expeditiousmovement of <strong>Afghanistan</strong> in building a new, progressive society,” responded Budrin, who was wellversed in the political jargon and spoke with great confidence.“Why did you use the word ‘can’? Does this indicate that you have some doubts regardingour intentions or the creative potential of the PDPA?”“No, Comrade Amin! I used the word can because I understand how powerful the feudalreaction inside your country can be, and how vicious can be the response of internationalimperialist circles. <strong>The</strong>y will do everything possible <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p the development of <strong>Afghanistan</strong><strong>to</strong>wards progress, democracy, and socialism. I think you and your comrades have a lot of work <strong>to</strong>157

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