The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

the organizational talents of Hafizullah Amin and fully supported him in his struggleagainst “the gang of four.” When Ponomaryov, during his visit to Kabul, asked the seniormilitary political adviser for his opinion regarding the conflict between Amin and theministers, Zaplatin told him the following story: Zaplatin’s office was located on the secondfloor of the Ministry of Defense building. Watanjar’s office was located on the first floor. Sofrom his window, Vasily Petrovich could observe what the minister of defense was doing.Normally, by noon, Gulabzoi and Mazdouryar would arrive at Watanjar’s. Sarwari wouldalso show up, but less frequently, and the four of them would depart to some unknownlocation together. Once, Zaplatin couldn’t contain his curiosity and decided to find out whatthe heroes of the revolution routinely did after lunch. He entered the office of the ministerof defense without warning. Gulabzoi was trying to hide behind a room divider, from wherehe was extracted by the general, as though he were a boy who had done somethingnaughty. When Zaplatin chided them for not working, the ministers responded: “We areyoung men; we carried out the revolution, and we have the right to enjoy occasionalentertainment.” It turned out that they were entertaining themselves almost every day andworked only until lunch.So there were lots of reasons for Amin to be displeased by Taraki’s appointees. Aminhimself was a workaholic who demanded the same from his subordinates, which placedhim apart from most other Afghans. Not everything was so cut and dry in the conflictbetween Amin and the “gang of four.”***The Herat uprising became a signal for the CIA to intensify its involvement inAfghanistan. The CIA sent their suggestions for the covert support of anti-government446