The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

a little over two hours to fulfill all their demands,” concluded Tarun, glancing at his Omega-Geneva watch, which Hafizullah Amin had recently given him as a gift.“What are you going to do?” inquired Amstutz dryly, having in mind the terrorists’demands.Tarun was smart, and pretended to understand the question differently. He startedto tell Amstutz that the walls of the hotel were very thick, made of bricks, and that the roomdoors were made of thick planks of oak and were outfitted with strong, reliable locks. “Thisis why it would be dangerous and difficult to storm the room from the corridor. However,snipers will arrive any minute to be placed in Da Afghanistan Bank, across from the roomwith the ambassador. Besides, my people went to pick up gas that can be injected under thedoor to paralyze the terrorists.” Then Tarun turned to the American security officer and, toevade further deliberations about his plan, asked him what sort of countermeasures theAmericans planned to pursue.Charlie, the American security officer, appeared visibly nervous. He was eager to act,but conceded that it was too dangerous to storm the room from the corridor. Then he saidthat marines from the Embassy Guard would try to climb to the second floor from thestreet. He motioned to four young, neatly dressed Americans who were standing by, andproceeded to exit the hotel with them.A chain of policemen that prevented passers-by from approaching Kabul Hotel’sentrance began to attract public attention. Different groups of people began to assembleacross the street. A few young boys crouched near the wall of the bank, waiting patiently,wondering what was about to happen. Drivers going by gawked at the armed policemen.300