The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

sent the commander of the Presidential Guard, Zia Majid, who made no attempt to hide hisallegiance to the party, to an honorable exile as a military attaché in India. Alas, he didn’thave the opportunity to remove other party sympathizers. Now he would pay the price.At the very outset of the coup, the head of guard communications, Captain Gol Agha,a man with a hoarse voice and a face scarred by pockmarks, severed all the telephone linesconnecting the palace to the outside world. This act of sabotage was the reason for Daoud’sinability to summon loyal military detachments to come to his aid. Another officer firedupon the presidential car when Daoud attempted to leave the Ark with the intention ofpersonally assuming leadership of the resistance to the rebels. Daoud’s son was seriouslywounded in that attack and the president gave up the idea of leaving the Ark.About thirty officers were members of that “fifth column” of the Presidential Guard.Almost all of them were later generously rewarded, promoted to the rank of generals andappointed to various high-level positions.Even the head of the Presidential Guard, Sahib Jan, was a good friend of manyofficers close to the top leadership of the PDPA. But on that day, loyal to the ancient code ofhonor, Pashtunwali, he fulfilled his duty to the end. He fought defending the president andthe government. As a result, Sahib Jan was captured and later executed.Much was written and said about Daoud. People who personally knew the presidentdescribed his extraordinary willpower, mind, and skills in conducting sophisticatedpolitical maneuvers. Many of them emphasized the austere, rigid, and even cruel characterof the Sardar, his insidiousness and vindictiveness. Daoud, according to some, did not eventry to conceal his arrogance and vanity. Not only was he proud to belong to the ruling clanof Afghanistan, he was also very proud of his Pashtun origin. The president was absolutely80