The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University
The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University
them.“Finally, here is the most important argument. What I am going to tell you now willmost probably be misunderstood by you. You are an atheist. Lenin is your god. Any religionseems reactionary to you. I don’t want to argue about it. But it is a fact that all our citizens,with very few exceptions, are deeply religious. Deep respect for Islam is inculcated in usfrom birth. Even many party members secretly pray. I know it. Do you know what ComradeTaraki is saying? That in three years our mosques will be empty. Such marginalizing andsometimes openly hostile attitudes toward religion make this government absolutelyunacceptable for the majority of Afghans. Most probably, it is not a secret for you thatyou—the Soviets and our leaders in Kabul—are called kafir (‘infidel’) behind your backs.And it is not as harmless as it may seem. The next step will be a proclamation of jihad, holywar, against you all. Neither Amin nor Taraki will be able to withstand jihad.”“Even if the Soviet Union will supply weapons, ammunition, and expert advisersmore actively?” asked Zaplatin.“Of course,” responded the major with great conviction. “Even if you undertake amilitary intervention. One cannot defeat the Afghans. One can either kill them or…make adeal with them. And when making deals with them, one should pay them well.”The conversation was winding down. Zaplatin thought that it made no sense tocontinue talking, because his arguments were obviously weaker than the Pashtun’s. For thefirst time in his life, Zaplatin talked to a man who was not ingratiating himself, who did notact as if each word from Zaplatin about the class struggle was a revelation. Despite theirdifference in age and rank, they were speaking as equals. The major did not shakeZaplatin’s ideological beliefs or convictions about the righteousness of his goals. But the476
peace of the general’s soul was disturbed for a long time after that conversation.Departing, the Afghan smiled to the general as to a friend or a neighbor and said,slightly embarrassed, “Forgive me, Comrade General, for acting insubordinately. I see thatyou are a good, honest man. I would like to give you one bit of advice before sayinggoodbye to you. Never believe any of my countrymen, even if they swear by all the saints.Words do not mean anything here.”Zaplatin immediately recalled that Minister of Defense Qadir used to say the samething to him. Where was Qadir now? Was he in prison, or rotting away six feet under?The major departed.During evening tea, the commander of the brigade asked Zaplatin about hisimpressions of the major.“He is an educated man,” responded Zaplatin evasively.“I assure you that all officers and soldiers in my brigade are prepared to give theirlives for the victory of the revolution,” said Abdul Rauf with great pathos.Having returned to Kabul, General Zaplatin was told that almost immediately afterhis departure, an armed uprising had broken out at the garrison in Asmar. More than ahundred officers and soldiers who were sympathizers of the new regime were killed. Theinfantry brigade, almost in its entirety, took the side of the rebels. Later they were joined byother detachments from the Ninth Mountain Infantry Division that was stationed in Kunarprovince.Abdul Rauf, the commander of the brigade, led the uprising.Zaplatin never heard about the major again. He could have left for the mountainswith the rebels. He could have been killed. Or he could have crossed the border to477
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peace of the general’s soul was disturbed for a long time after that conversation.Departing, the Afghan smiled <strong>to</strong> the general as <strong>to</strong> a friend or a neighbor and said,slightly embarrassed, “Forgive me, Comrade General, for acting insubordinately. I see thatyou are a good, honest man. I would like <strong>to</strong> give you one bit of advice before sayinggoodbye <strong>to</strong> you. Never believe any of my countrymen, even if they swear by all the saints.Words do not mean anything here.”Zaplatin immediately recalled that Minister of Defense Qadir used <strong>to</strong> say the samething <strong>to</strong> him. Where was Qadir now? Was he in prison, or rotting away six feet under?<strong>The</strong> major departed.During evening tea, the commander of the brigade asked Zaplatin about hisimpressions of the major.“He is an educated man,” responded Zaplatin evasively.“I assure you that all officers and soldiers in my brigade are prepared <strong>to</strong> give theirlives for the vic<strong>to</strong>ry of the revolution,” said Abdul Rauf with great pathos.Having returned <strong>to</strong> Kabul, General Zaplatin was <strong>to</strong>ld that almost immediately afterhis departure, an armed uprising had broken out at the garrison in Asmar. More than ahundred officers and soldiers who were sympathizers of the new regime were killed. <strong>The</strong>infantry brigade, almost in its entirety, <strong>to</strong>ok the side of the rebels. Later they were joined byother detachments from the Ninth Mountain Infantry Division that was stationed in Kunarprovince.Abdul Rauf, the commander of the brigade, led the uprising.Zaplatin never heard about the major again. He could have left for the mountainswith the rebels. He could have been killed. Or he could have crossed the border <strong>to</strong>477
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