The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Taraki called Amin and spoke in Pashto. “He is on his way,” he said. Suddenly, he begantelling us of Amin’s plans to take control of power in the country. I don’t know what happenedto him, but he began bitterly sharing with us things about Amin that we had tried in vain totell him on numerous occasions. He said that Amin could not tolerate criticism, that he cruellypersecuted all of his opponents, and that his relatives had assumed key state positions. Hisyoung nephew Asadullah now held nine posts in state and party organizations. “It turns outthat one family is ruling our country, as it was under the king and Daoud.” Taraki’s eyes werefinally open, but it was too late.Suddenly there was the sound of pistol shots and automatic weapon fire from behind thedoor. We jumped up and tried to stay close to the walls because the gunshots sounded closeenough to pass through the thin door and injure us. Gorelov dashed to the window andshouted, “Amin is running towards the car!” Taraki was the nearest to the door, and I movedhim aside. I asked Rurikov, the youngest among us, to cautiously check on what washappening in the corridor. Taraki’s agitated bodyguards dashed into the office and told himsomething in Pashto. Taraki explained to us, “The head of my chancellery, Chief Aide-de-CampSayed Tarun, has been killed.”We saw Tarun’s corpse lying outside the door to Taraki’s office as we left the palace. Hewas lying face up with his right hand against his waist, as though he was shot while reachingfor his pistol.Later we tried to recreate in greatest detail what had happened. Prime Minister Amin,accompanied by three bodyguards, arrived for the meeting after his telephone conversationwith Taraki. His car had parked beside our cars, both the one we had arrived in and the onedriven by our guards. Our security detail consisted of three officers and Junior Colonel538