The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Taraki. The guards would allow the car to pass, Starostin would drive up to the entrance ofthe residence, Sarwari, Gulabzoi, and Watanjar would jump out of the car, break into thegeneral secretary’s residence, kidnap him, and they would all return together to the Sovietembassy.“They are out of their minds,” thought Starostin, but said, “Comrades—I think thatthis operation will be impossible under the current circumstances. First, we will be unableto reach Taraki’s residence. We will certainly be stopped at Darul Aman Road. Second,regardless of how hard you try to hide inside the car, I will not be allowed on the premisesof the residence, and that’s the best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, we will all bearrested on the spot, and you know what could be the consequences of that. Thirdly, even ifwe assume that with my help you are able to break into Comrade Taraki’s residence, get tohim, and bring him to the Soviet embassy, think of what Amin will say. He would say thatthe head of the Afghan state is a coward who ran away and is hiding on the territory of aforeign embassy. Will the Afghan people appreciate this? Is Taraki himself going to like thissituation? Finally, how can I, a foreign diplomat, participate in armed action on anothercountry’s territory? It would be an international scandal!”Gulabzoi looked at Sarwari with contempt and said something to him in Pashto. As faras Starostin understood, he agreed that Sarwari’s plan was far from perfect. Sarwari thenfell deep into thought, sitting in the armchair with the portable radio in his hand.Afterward, Starostin began a conversation with Watanjar, who looked deflated.Starostin was trying to encourage him. He told the former minister of the interior that heneeded to remain optimistic, that Taraki would soon return to his work and restore themto their former posts.557