The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

analysts in the International Department of the Central Committee of CPSU, at the ForeignMinistry, Ministry of Defense, and KGB were tasked to develop recommendations regardingthe situation in Afghanistan.The KGB’s First Chief Directorate sent an important document, signed byKryuchkov, to Andropov, who presented it at a meeting of the Politburo. The document didnot refer directly to Amin’s plotting, but contained broader proposals regarding thesituation.It is possible that this very document became the basis for further politicalrecommendations put forth by the Soviet leadership. Among other things, the documentstated: “Domestic situation in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan continues to rapidlydeteriorate. Activities of armed groups of counter-revolutionaries which receivecomprehensive support from the United States, China, England, Pakistan, Iran, and SaudiArabia continue to expand. As a result of a direct military offensive, the rebels managed togain full control over the provinces bordering Pakistan, captured a considerable part of theterritory of Central Afghanistan, created a dangerous climate in most of the provincesadjacent to Kabul, and intensified their activities in northern areas adjacent to the Sovietborder. They continue provocations in provinces bordering Iran. Recently, thereactionaries organized open military offensives in the capital. During the last two months,two serious attempts to overthrow the current regime were undertaken in Kabul. Thesituation in Kabul is aggravated by the fact that it is de facto cut off from the majority ofother provinces that supply food to the capital. Only one highway of three, Salang, whichconnects Kabul with the Soviet border through the mountain range Hindu Kush, is more orless operable. However, this highway has also been frequently blocked by the rebels in the486