The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

events in Kabul, having never stepped foot in the country.***During the two and a half months that passed since the April Revolution, about thirty plotsagainst the new regime were uncovered in Afghanistan. The “plotters” were arrested, tortureduntil they admitted their crimes, and were usually shot without trial.The head of the General Staff of the armed forces, Shahpur Ahmadzai, and the head of theKabul hospital, Dr. Ali Akbar, were arrested and accused of treason in August. Neither of themwere PDPA members, but the steamroller of repression reached everybody who was suspected ofthe slightest disloyalty to the new regime. Soon came the turn of the minister of defense.Abdul Qadir never tried to hide his negative attitude about the squabbles within the PDPA.The minister understood that his views would not serve him well in the long run; however, hisstubbornness triumphed over common sense. Shortly after a secret communications center wasestablished in Kabul, Qadir received a call from the Soviet minister of defense, Marshal Ustinov,who called Qadir to congratulate and wish him well. Qadir’s response was, “Comrade Marshal, Iam prepared to give my life for the revolution. I am a sincere and loyal friend of the USSR. But youmust know that there is disorder in our party, which is being torn by disagreements. We bestowtremendous hope on the wisdom and willpower of your advisers.”He also asked that detailed maps of Afghanistan be sent for his use.“We will send you maps immediately,” said Ustinov. “As to the disagreements, do notworry—everything will be fine. We will soon send new, highly respected advisers to Afghanistan. Ithink that your leaders will value their opinion.”It is likely that Ustinov believed what he was saying. The Soviet minister of defense hadnever visited Afghanistan and would never go there in the future, even during the Soviet military193