Warfare in Afghanistan

Press, 2 August 1979, Page 16

Warfare in Afghanistan

The American decision to leave only essential embassy staff in Afghanistan is another indication of the serious fighting that has been going on in that country. The pro-Soviet, pro-Communist coup in April last year has not produced a Government which is in full control of the country. Fighting which began as a tribal outburst spread from the most mountainous areas to engulf considerable areas of the countryside. The forces that oppose the Government have been attempting to combine, though their traditional rivalries make such unity difficult.

To some extent the unifying factor has become Islam, as it was in Afghanistan’s neighbour, Iran. The Government of President Taraki and the Prime Minister, Mr Hafizullah Amin, lends itself to the description of “godless” if the lesson is read according to the Koran; nor do Soviet “advisers” in .Afghanistan appear to the insurgents to be leading Afghanistan along the path of Islam. Anti-Soviet feeling and slogans are being used extensively by the insurgents. Soviet military equipment has been imported to the country and some reports have it that Soviet pilots have been used in attacks on the insurgents. The relationship with the Soviet Union was strengthened in a Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness, and Co-operation signed on December 5, last year. However, the Soviet Union has become aware of the unpopularity of the Government and the feeling against its own presence in Afghanistan and has shown signs of looking at alternatives to President Taraki. In February the United States Ambassador to

Afghanistan, Mr Adolph Dubs, was kidnapped by insurgents and shot when Afghan police stormed the room where he was held. The Soviet Union denied any involvement in the police action and joined Afghanistan in expressing condolences to the United States Government. The incident reveals the close involvement, but touchiness, of the Soviet position in Afghanistan. The fighting in Afghanistan has caused concern in both Iran and in Pakistan, another of Afghanistan’s neighbours. In Iran floods of refugees entered’ both during the Shah’s time and afterwards, giving rise to some fears that there would be Communist agents among them. In both Iran and Pakistan newspapers have been full of accusations and counter-accusations about violations of borders. The Soviet Union has accused Pakistan of training guerrillas in refugee camps along the border and has said that Pakistan is connected with the insurgency movement. Pakistan has denied this and asked for United Nations help for the 100,000 refugees in camps. The Afghan Army has found itself fighting its own people and defections to the insurgents have been increasing markedly. The major question will be about how the Soviet Union will respond. Will it increase its forces in the area to bolster the Taraki Government? Would it be prepared to lose the ground it has gained in having a pro-Soviet Government in Kabul? Because of the strategic position of Afghanistan, the actions of the Soviet Union are significant not only for the region, but for the rest of the world as well.