New campaign predicted

Press, 18 August 1980, Page 8

New campaign predicted

NZPA-Reuter New DelhiA team of top Soviet gen-, erals has been in Kabul for a week, apparently layjngi: plans for a major hew offen- -. sive against the anti-Manfist/ ■ rebels in the Afghan coun-;/ tryside, a usually reliable Kabul source has said. “Negotiations and analysis ’ of the Russian military operations with-the assistance of Afghan (army) officers are going on,” said the source,., • He said the Soviet team. arrived dn Kabul- on. August;-. 10. The report confirmed with ’ another on Thursday by aj Western, diplomat that a ; high-powered Soviet delega- ■ tion — either military or civilian — had arrived in/ the Afghan capital. The diplomat said a field; of antennae had suddenly sprouted atop the official; Afghan guest house in. ■ Kabul, indicating a major; communications centre had > been established there. . j

The source said that -the Soviet generals were, considering a plan ’to "launch massive attacks” against the Muslim rebels “all over Afghanistan.” Part of the Kabul planning and analysis also apparently has centred on the shrinking Afghan Army, hard-hit by desertions and battle losses, the source said.With the Soviet army’s lack of success in the mountainous countryside, : tha source said people dose to the Afghan Army in Kabul were-predicting more Soviet troops would be brought into Afghanistan for the new