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

een assumed that the Soviets in Afghanistan had nothing to fear, that the “Afghan people”loved them and would protect them always and everywhere. Suddenly, this monstrouswave of medieval-style murders shattered these long-standing beliefs. Civilian specialistsand families of the military advisers were evacuated to the Herat airdrome and flown toKabul. Until the arrival of the Aeroflot flight from Moscow, the specialists and their wivesand children were put in the so-called “marble hall” of the embassy, normally reserved forspecial holiday receptions. Many Soviets left behind all of their documents and otherbelongings during the evacuation. Many were dressed in robes and shorts.Soon it became clear that there was more to come. The uprising continued to gathermomentum when mutiny overtook the Seventeenth Infantry Division. Even in the division,which was considered to be one of the most reliable and loyal to the PDPA, the influence ofthe mullahs had proven stronger than the soldiers’ dedication to the new Afghan regime.After the artillery units fired upon the crowd approaching the military base, the cannonswere turned around and began to fire upon the barracks and the base itself. Two days later,the detachments of almost the entire division had either sided with the rebels or simplydeserted.By March 15, Herat had fallen under the rebels’ control. Those who survived—members of the party, the commanders loyal to the regime, and the Soviet advisers—retreated to the airdrome, which was located ten kilometers away from the city.The following five days were of great importance for the Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan. Government circles were consumed with panic. If Herat, once considered to bepeaceful and loyal, could fall so easily to the first sign of aggression from an unarmedcrowd, what could be expected in other, more volatile regions, ravaged by the armed356

counter-revolutionaries? Would this uprising become a signal for others to begin apowerful armed rebellion? Then the counter-revolution could snowball straight to Kabul,growing in power by the day and threatening to bury the fledgling authorities, along withtheir Soviet advisers, planes, tanks, ideologies, and promises.In a state of dismay, Taraki asked General Gorelov for urgent military assistance.More precisely, he needed the engagement of Soviet paratroopers.Amin ordered aviation to be launched and to bomb Herat, the crown jewel ofAfghanistan, into rubble. The Soviet advisers had a very difficult time convincing him tochange his mind and call off the strike, though they eventually succeeded.Bogdanov went to see Sarwari in his office. Sarwari met him, pistol in hand, as ifexpecting a rebel assault at any moment. “The Herat Infantry Division does not existanymore,” said Sarwari in a doomed, shaking voice. “A chain reaction of fear and panic maybegin in the army. If the situation continues to develop this way, Kabul may share Herat’sdestiny in five days.”“What are you planning to do?” asked Bogdanov. He had never seen Sarwari in suchan alarmed state.“We will leave for the mountains and begin everything anew. We will regroup andfall on the country from above like an avalanche,” Sarwari said.“Yes, of course,” thought Bogdanov, “you will run and hide. But where will we go?Who will hide our women and children?”“You should calmly analyze the situation,” pleaded Bogdanov. “As far as I know, yourleadership has not done a thing to help Herat. Have any of your leaders even gone there?”“No,” replied Sarwari hopelessly. It seemed that he had not even considered that.357

counter-revolutionaries? Would this uprising become a signal for others <strong>to</strong> begin apowerful armed rebellion? <strong>The</strong>n the counter-revolution could snowball straight <strong>to</strong> Kabul,growing in power by the day and threatening <strong>to</strong> bury the fledgling authorities, along withtheir Soviet advisers, planes, tanks, ideologies, and promises.In a state of dismay, Taraki asked General Gorelov for urgent military assistance.More precisely, he needed the engagement of Soviet paratroopers.Amin ordered aviation <strong>to</strong> be launched and <strong>to</strong> bomb Herat, the crown jewel of<strong>Afghanistan</strong>, in<strong>to</strong> rubble. <strong>The</strong> Soviet advisers had a very difficult time convincing him <strong>to</strong>change his mind and call off the strike, though they eventually succeeded.Bogdanov went <strong>to</strong> see Sarwari in his office. Sarwari met him, pis<strong>to</strong>l in hand, as ifexpecting a rebel assault at any moment. “<strong>The</strong> Herat Infantry Division does not existanymore,” said Sarwari in a doomed, shaking voice. “A chain reaction of fear and panic maybegin in the army. If the situation continues <strong>to</strong> develop this way, Kabul may share Herat’sdestiny in five days.”“What are you planning <strong>to</strong> do?” asked Bogdanov. He had never seen Sarwari in suchan alarmed state.“We will leave for the mountains and begin everything anew. We will regroup andfall on the country from above like an avalanche,” Sarwari said.“Yes, of course,” thought Bogdanov, “you will run and hide. But where will we go?Who will hide our women and children?”“You should calmly analyze the situation,” pleaded Bogdanov. “As far as I know, yourleadership has not done a thing <strong>to</strong> help Herat. Have any of your leaders even gone there?”“No,” replied Sarwari hopelessly. It seemed that he had not even considered that.357

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