The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

as consul general in Bombay.Before leaving Afghanistan, Karmal secretly gathered his comrades. During that meetingthey decided that, in his absence, the minister of planning and economics, Sultan Ali Keshtmand,would become the leader of their faction. Security agents working among the Parchamisimmediately reported the outcome of the meeting to Hafizullah Amin.The KGB operatives also knew that the Parchamis were contemplating some action.Perhaps this is why Puzanov refused to receive Babrak Karmal on the eve of his departure fromKabul. The ambassador understood that Amin would immediately find out about the meeting. OnFriday, June 21, Karmal, Baryalai, Sarboland, and Anahita suddenly appeared at the gate of theSoviet embassy. However, after a short exchange with the embassy guards, the cortege of four carsturned around and drove away. The guests were told that the ambassador was out of the embassy,despite the fact that Alexander Mikhailovich was in his office. The group drove to the villa wherethe TASS correspondent resided. Alexei Petrov, whom Karmal knew well, had already left Kabuland was replaced by a new KGB operative, Leonid Biryukov. Biryukov had just arrived in Kabuland was unaware of the depth of disagreements between the Khalqis and Parchamis. He knewabout Karmal and his allies only through the Moscow KGB dossiers. The KGB operative wasastonished when, at about 10 p.m., his doorbell rang and he saw the four famous Parchamisoutside the gate of his residence.“I am Babrak Karmal,” Karmal introduced himself to Biryukov, “and these are my comradesfrom the Central Committee.” He introduced his colleagues to Biryukov.“Yes, I know you, Comrade Karmal. I am very glad to see you,” mumbled the astonishedoperative. “Please, come in.”“It would be better,” said Karmal, “if you would permit us to park our cars in your185