Ali Ahmad Jalali

“ Theenemy were arresting people throughout Kama. We decided to leaveto the north. Earlier, Shapur had sent a messenger to my group of 13telling them to move north. However, they were pinned down by heavyartillery fire and direct fire. They could not break contact and foughtto the last man. As we left the area, one of my Mujahideen fired anRPG at a helicopter. The helicopter caught fire and flew off and fell to the ground near Kama—where it exploded. I don't know whether theRPG hit the helicopter or whether other ground fire got it. ”

“ Isaw that part of the Soviets were heading toward my 13 men. TheSoviets began firing flares at the group of 13 to mark their position.Helicopter gunships then attacked my men with machine gun fire.Other Soviets headed down from Derghi Ghar toward them. Afterthe air attack, the Soviets began attacking my 13-man group. I wasmidway between the attacking Soviets and my men—about 500meters away. I looked in my binoculars and saw that another groupof Soviets were down in the valley picking up the pliers, first aidpackets and money I had discarded. ”

“ TheSoviets remained in Kama for two days. Then we returned to retrievethe bodies of my men. I found the bodies of my 13 men in a group, plusthose of Zafar and Noor and five more of my men. The Soviets hadbooby-trapped some of the bodies and had sprinkled chemicals on otherbodies which caused them to disintegrate. We couldn't evacuate thesebodies. So we built graves over them. Their bodies are still thereunder stones. I do not know what the Soviet casualties were, but I doknow that I shot two, we downed a helicopter and the Soviets lost threearmored vehicles to our mines during this action. ”

“ A lot of Mujahideen mortar firing was observed firefrom the forward slopes of a mountain with the gunner making firingadjustments. The mortar crews in this attack would not have survivedthe Soviet return fire if they had tried firing from the forward slopes.Their reverse slope firing positions in the valley made it difficult forSoviet artillery to reach the firing positions. The use of forwardobservers to adjust fire is a mark of sophistication among Mujahideenforces. ”

“ The Soviets were very careless of Afghan lives. Theykilled several villagers indiscriminately. They also killed one of mymen who was unarmed. I am glad we drove the Soviets out, but thesubsequent actions of the Mujahideen tarnish their record of victory. Ihave written many poems of protest against their current activities.
COMMENTARY: The Mujahideen were able to fire on the garrisonover a two-hour period since they periodically shifted firing positionsto avoid return fire. The Soviets did not push out any night patrolsto find the firing positions but only replied with artillery fire. ”

“ VIGNETTE 2 A NEW YEARS PRESENT FOR THE SOVIETSby Mawlawi Shukur Yasini The Soviets invaded Afghanistan on 27 December 1979. I decidedthat we should give them a combination anniversary and New Yearspresent on 29 December 1983. The present would be a shelling attackon the 66th Separate. Motorized Rifle Brigade at Samarkhel. I assem-bled 150 Mujahideen with two 82mm mortars, two RPG-7s, one recoil-less rifle, and five or six antitank mines We had 250 mortar roundsfor the attack. I placed my nephew Shapur in command. He formedfour groups: a mortar group commanded by Awozubellah ”

“ TheSoviets and DRA tried to curb these attacks with counterbattery fires,rapid reaction forces and ambushes. Due to their routine nature, theMujahideen did not usually discuss these unless the interviewerprobed. ”