Ali Ahmad Jalali

“ Planning should ensure that alternate routes andtimes of travel are used, that potential ambush sites are cleared andthat movement through areas is coordinated with local forces.Movement details need to be safeguarded and deception measurestaken to prevent ambush. Page 342 The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War VIGNETTE 1 CAUGHT IN A SOVIET AMBUSHby Mawlawi Mohayddin Baloch In 1983, we had one GMC pickup truck to support my force. ”

“ Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War the fighting, I saw helicopters landing and taking off. They may havecome to evacuate dead and wounded. CO1VIIVIENTARY: This successful DRA ambush inflicted more than 60percent loss on the Mujahideen force. Soviet/DRA recruitment of localagents and informants gradually expanded their intelligence network.in the Afghan rural areas. Often, agent/informant information was nottimely, but when it was, the Soviet/DRA planners reacted to it.Intelligence was central to Soviet/DRA ambush planning and attemptsto assassinate Mujahideen commanders. ”

“ This wasa contributing factor to the very-high Mujahideen losses. Further, themiddle of a kill zone is no place to establish a defense. If the comman-der had a counterambush battle drill where his men immediatelyassaulted into the teeth of the ambush, more of his force might havesurvived. VIGNETTE 3 BLASTING OUT OF AN AMBUSHby Amir Mohammad It was in 1985. We had a large truck that we were haulingweapons, rockets and ammunition in from Pakistan to our base campin the Argandab river valley (No map) . ”