The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

last few days.“Realization of social-economic reforms, which were introduced in a hurriedmanner and without necessary preparation, is put on hold because of the current situationinvolving the approaching state of civil war in the country. The government of Taraki andAmin is losing authority among the people of Afghanistan. Anti-Soviet sentiment among thepopulation appears to be on the rise.“Advice and recommendations to bolster propaganda activities among the people inorder to strengthen the broader social base of the regime that were given to Taraki andAmin by Soviet representatives are not being implemented. Taraki and Amin continue toturn to military force as the main means for resolving all domestic political problems. Asbefore, they make important state decisions without consulting other members of thePolitburo of the PDPA Central Committee; they continue to pursue the politics ofunfounded repression against their own population…”Further, the head of the PGU reminded the reader about the elimination ofParchamists, repression directed at patriotic officers, clerics, and intellectuals. Hementioned the PDPA leaders’ failure to work with Pashtun and Baluch tribes. He gravelyconcluded that Taraki and Amin themselves did not believe in the loyalty of their armedforces, and therefore were insisting that the Soviet leadership send Soviet militarydetachments to the DRA, including for their personal protection.“In the current state of crisis, it is possible that the achievements of the AprilRevolution may be lost and the interests of the Soviet Union in this important region of theworld may be gravely affected,” Kryuchkov’s analysis continued. “Under suchcircumstances, the following recommendations should be considered:487