Afgantsy

by Rodric Braithwaite

  Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan 84, 194, 267

  Logar, Afghan province 162, 233

  Long range bombers 7, 123, 143, 202, 216, 219, 223, 272, 284, 289

  Lunin Alexander, chief adviser to Polytechnic rector 148

  Lyakhovski Alexander (1946–2009), Soviet general 37, 242

  Criticism of 40th Army 144

  Draws up proposals for Masud 287

  Helps draw up plans for assault on White House 311

  Lytton Lord (1803–91), Viceroy of India 27

  M

  Magometov General, Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 74, 83–4, 90–92, 96

  Magradze, Soviet expert in Herat 44

  Maiorov General Alexander, Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 229, 240

  Maiwand, scene of British defeat, 1880 25

  Malachuskaya Natalya, protests against Afghan war 108

  Maladani Sher Ahmad, mujahedin commander 6

  Prefers Russians to Americans 335

  malishi, militia detachments 165

  Maltseva Lena, enthusiastic volunteer 155

  Margoeva Galina, wife of Afghan engineer 159

  Masud Ahmad Shah (1953–2001), mujahedin field commander 139, 185, 201, 218, 223, 258, 285–7, 290, 295–6

  Assassination, 9 September 2001 304

  Birthplace and early career 184

  Buried in Pandsher Valley 305

  Commands 20,000 men, with tanks and artillery, 1991 299

  Drives on Kabul 302

  Educated at Kabul University 17, 32

  Helps find Soviet soldiers missing in action 258

  His forces commit atrocities in Kabul 234

  Military skills admired by Russians 184

  Moscow decides to deal with him once and for all, 1984 219

  Negotiates ceasefire with Russians 185

  Pushed back from Kabul 303

  Receives little aid from Pakistanis 201

  Remains a problem for Russians and Kabul government 285

  Russians build links after withdrawal 303

  Russians unable to inflict decisive defeat 216

  Uses ceasefire to rebuild forces 219

  Matlock Jack, US diplomat 280–81

  Matrosskaya Tishina, Moscow prison 95

  Mazar-i Sharif, Afghan city 29, 86, 162, 260, 302–3

  Mazduryar Shirjan, Afghan politician 40, 59, 68

  Mi-24, ‘Crocodile’, Soviet armoured helicopter 197–8

  Mi-8, ‘Bee’. Soviet helicopter 198

  microrayon, Soviet-built suburb in Kabul 105, 153, 160

  Mikhanov B N, chief expert at irrigation project 148

  Mikheeva Ludmila, nurse 158

  Mine warfare 131–2, 184, 211, 223

  Alleged use of mines disguised as toys 234

  Devastating effect on soldiers’ morale 132

  Mironov, Colonel Valeri 88

  Missing in action 257

  Mohammed Hamid, mujahedin prisoner 232

  Moiseev, General Mikhail, Chief of General Staff 310, 317

  Morozov Captain Igor 166

  Morozov Igor, KGB special forces officer and bard 194, 247

  Leaves Afghanistan 195

  Resigns commission 312

  Morozov Sergei, sergeant 88, 172, 218, 223

  Afghanistan the best years of his life 195

  Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies 109

  Mothers 263

  Among first effective civil rights organisations 263

  Gorbachev reads their letters to the Politburo 273

  Letters to authorities 243

  Mozhayev, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 61

  Mujahedin, Afghan guerilla fighters 135, 182–3, 223, 229, 258–9, 296

  Attacks inside Kabul 159

  Control old city of Herat 165

  Destroy major arms dump in Kabul 202

  Fail to achieve coherence 333

  Hijack Soviet aid 148

  Impose fines 165

  Intelligence successes 136, 139, 208

  Join Afghan army 298

  Major supply base explodes in Pakistan 202

  Morale high after Russians depart 296

  Raids into Soviet Central Asia 78, 142

  Refuse to accept Geneva Agreements 281

  Rule villages by night 224

  Sell Stingers to Iran 205

  Seven parties based in Pakistan 200

  Successes 201

  Successful air defences 203

  Supplied from Pakistan 131, 285

  Tactics 128–9, 132, 141, 200

  Muratkhanian Yuri, director of ‘Afsotr’ 300–301

  Muratov Aleksei & Marina, Soviet advisers 161

  Music and poetry 192

  Muslim battalion 63, 82, 90–94, 97, 99, 115, 117

  Musulmanin, film 260

  N

  Nadir Shah Mohamed (1883–1933), Afghan ruler 16, 86

  Najibullah Mohamed (1947–96), last Communist president 52, 276, 285, 288

  Asks for Soviet troops to remain 287

  Butchered by Taliban 303

  Character sketch by GRU 275

  Describes typical meeting with Soviet advisers 148

  Exiled to Tehran, 1979 53

  Exploits differences within Soviet government 277

  Loses senior advocates in Soviet government 299

  Popular after his death 335

  Publicly blames Soviets for invasion 299

  Releases Amin’s womenfolk 104

  Replaces Babrak Karmal 143, 275

  Requests Soviet military support 296

  Seeks asylum with UN 301

  Tells military advisers to leave 301

  Worried about divergence of interests with Soviets 285

  Writes bitterly to Shevardnadze 299

  Nargez, Afghan wife of Andrei Olenin 260

  National Reconciliation, policy of Najibullah government 53, 143, 241, 275–6, 279, 299

  Nekrasov Vyacheslav, youth adviser 166–8, 171, 285

  Nikiforov Sergei, soldier 172, 254

  Novoe Vremya, newspaper 304

  nursiki, rocket nose cones 295

  O

  Oerlikon, Swiss anti-aircraft gun 203

  Ogarkov General Nikolai, Soviet Chief of General Staff 1977–84 48, 55, 74–5, 77, 80, 229

  Ogonek, Soviet magazine 241

  Okhrimiuk Yevgeni, adviser kidnapped and murdered 160

  Okudzhava Bulat, popular Soviet singer 192

  Olenin Aleksei, Russian convert to Islam 259–60

  Olney Warren, Union Army 1, 180

  Olympic boycott 113

  Operation Magistral 214–15, 326

  Operation Raduga (Rainbow) 69

  Operation Typhoon 143, 288–90

  Operational Group of the Ministry of Defence 84–5, 88, 141, 185, 243

  Orenburg, Russian city 20–23

  Orgyadro, local government cadre 222

  Ostrovenko Yevgeni, Russian ambassador, Kabul 1992 301–2

  Otradnoe, Russian village 260

  Oxus River see Amu Darya

  P

  Paghman, Afghan town 34

  Pakistan 232, 281, 296

  Paktia, Afghan province 53, 183

  Pandjeh oasis, sparks Anglo-Russian crisis 27

  Pandsher Valley

  Civilian population returns 187

  Description 216

  Soviet operations in 142, 215, 217

  Lion of Pandsher 184

  Panjshiri, Afghan Communist politician 95

  Parcham, faction in Afghan Communist party 31, 38, 40, 42–3, 53, 60, 275

  Partition of India, 1947 24

  parvanistka, bazaar in Kabul 160

  Pashanin, Soviet soldier captured by mujahedin 211–12

  Pastukhov Boris, Soviet ambassador, Kabul 1989–91 304

  Paul I, Russian Tsar 19

  Pavlovski General Ivan, leads mission to Afghanistan, 1979 55

  Payman S, Afghan Interior Minister 101

  Peck Rory, Britis
h journalist 258

  People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan 17, 30, 37

  Perovski General Vasili, governor of Orenburg 1833–42 21–2

  Pershing II missiles 47, 78

  Peshawar—Afghan city annexed by Sikhs in 1834 24

  Peter the Great—sends expedition to Khiva 18

  Petrovski General Vasili, abortive campaign against Khiva 1839 22

  Petrushenko Colonel Nikolai, critic of Gorbachev 309

  Pipeline 207

  Pitirim Metropolitan, critic of Gorbachev 317

  Plassey, British victory 1757 19

  Plastun Vladimir, expert on Afghanistan, criticises war 245

  Poklonnaya Gora war memorial 324, 326

  Pol Pot, Cambodian despot 44

  Politburo (Afghan) 40

  Politburo (Soviet) 47, 50, 52

  Abandons attempt to build socialism in Afghanistan 278

  Committee on Afghanistan 60, 272

  Considers Geneva negotiations 281

  Decides on invasion 77

  Discusses Herat Rising 7, 45

  Discusses withdrawal 270, 277, 279

  Pleas to spare Taraki ignored 69

  Preliminary decisions to send troops 76

  Rejects Najibullah’s call for an air strike 296

  Tries to keep war secret 235

  Ponomarev, head of Communist Party International Department 52, 74, 171, 173, 181, 199, 211

  Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

  Potemkin Prince Grigori (1739–91), Catherine the Great’s adviser and lover 19

  PPZh, ‘field service wife’ 158

  praporshchik (warrant officer) 121, 155, 206, 210, 242, 255–7

  Pravda newspaper 155, 189, 239, 243, 293, 315

  Prikaz, Demobilisation order 250

  Primakov Yevgeni (1929–), Russian politician 29, 303

  Prokhanov Alexander, Soviet writer 129, 231

  Propaganda

  Civilian casualty figures often exaggerated 331

  Soviet propaganda 242–3

  West exploits fate of Soviet deserters 259

  Western propaganda 112, 234, 259, 332

  PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 319 see also Afghan syndrome

  Public attitudes to the war

  More information available under Gorbachev 245

  Pul-i Charkhi prison 39–40, 44, 67, 76, 104, 227, 275

  Pul-i Khumri logistics base 205

  Pushtu language 13, 101, 151, 153

  Pushtun ethnic group 13–14, 201, 276

  Pushtunistan 28

  Putin Vladimir (1952–), Russian President 312, 318, 324

  Warns President Bush of consequences of Masud’s assassination 304

  Puzanov Alexander, Soviet ambassador, Kabul 43, 48, 55, 65, 69, 71, 75

  R

  Rabbani Buhanuddin, (1940–), leader of mujahedin party 17, 32, 184, 200–201, 266–7, 279, 286, 330

  Claims war caused Soviet collapse 330

  Negotiates with Badaber insurgents 267

  Visits Moscow 268

  Rafi Mohamed, Afghan Chief of Staff 40, 42, 53

  Rakhmonov Feliks, Soviet officer of Tajik origin 233

  Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), Sikh ruler 24

  Ratebzad Anakhita (1930–), Afghan Communist politician 42, 53, 152

  razvedchik, intelligence officer or scout 210–11, 220

  Reagan Ronald (1911–2004), US President 114, 272, 280, 296

  Refugees 45, 135, 186, 231–2, 237, 290

  Reshetnikov Professor Mikhail, expert on PTSD 322–3

  Rodionov General I, Commander 40th Army 1985–6 124, 309

  Rokossovski Marshal K, Soviet commander in World War II 158

  Romanov Major, commander of Grom 91, 93

  Rozenbaum Alexander, popular singer 192, 253

  Rozenbaum Alexander, young journalist 292

  Rutskoi Colonel Alexander 230, 311, 317

  Ruzi Lieutenant, one of Taraki’s murderers 72–3, 93

  Ryabchenko General, commander of 108th Airborne Division 100–101

  Rykova Svetlana, wangles a job in Shindand 156

  Ryurikov Dmitri, diplomat 65–6, 107

  S

  Saimetdinov Dodikhudo, interpreter 167

  Sakharov Andrei (1921–89), nuclear physicist and dissident 108, 237

  Salang tunnel 88, 205–6

  Samin, Russian PoW 261

  Sandirescu, praporshchik in 860th Regiment 210–11

  Sapper 132

  Sarwari Asadullah, member of ‘Gang of Four’ 59, 62, 64–5, 68, 83, 92

  Satarov Captain, 96

  Sayyaf Abdul Rasul (1946–.), mujahedin commander 17

  Sberbank, Soviet savings bank 188

  Sebrov General, unimpressed with official speeches 291

  Semchenko Grisha, youth adviser 163

  Semenov Major, commander of Zenit 93

  Sergeev Major, captures a Stinger 204, 304

  Severny Komsomolets, newspaper 292

  Shafi, Afghan agent working for Russians 127

  Shah Wali, Amin’s foreign minister 71

  Shchedrov, Pravda correspondent 239

  Shebarshin Leonid, KGB general 222

  Returns to Herat 333

  Shershnev Colonel Leonid, critic of war 239–41, 243

  Shevardnadze Eduard (1927–), Soviet foreign minister 81, 276–7, 280, 287–9, 309

  Proposes leaving Soviet troops to support Najibullah after withdrawal 282

  Reports on unpopularity of Soviets 278

  Signs Geneva Agreements with heavy heart 282

  Tells Shultz Soviets will soon leave 280

  Shilka, mobile anti-aircraft gun 92, 97

  Shindand, Afghan town 54, 193, 233, 252, 303

  Shiryaev Valeri, military interpreter 151, 158, 231

  Shkidchenko General, killed on operations 151

  Shkirando Alexander, poisoned in Amin’s palace 96

  Shomali Plain, ‘green zone’ north of Kabul 206, 217

  Shujah Shah (1785–1842), Afghan ruler 14–15

  Shultz George (1920–), US Secretary of State 280

  shuravi, Afghan word for Soviet 298

  Sidorov Colonel Valeri, commander of 860th Regiment 209, 211–13

  Skobelev General Mikhail (1843–82), conqueror of Central Asia 24

  Slonim Masha, British journalist, rescues drug addicts 191

  Smolina Alla, Soviet official 203, 257, 264–5

  Snegirev Vladimir, Soviet journalist 149, 189, 238, 258, 333

  Snesarev General Andrei (1865–1937), expert on Afghanistan 9, 28

  Sneyerov Kostya, soldier in 860th Regiment 326

  Sokolov Marshal Sergei, First Deputy Minister of Defence, 84, 88, 141, 186, 222–3, 243, 250

  Sotskov General, Chief Military Adviser 1988–9 290

  Soviet Union

  Contribution of war to Soviet collapse 330

  Incoherence of policy making 61

  Ministry of Defence prepares for possible invasion 56

  Soviet withdrawal

  First phase 1988 282

  Second phase, winter 1988–9 284

  Soviets leave Jalalabad 283

  Spin Boldak, Afghan town 303

  St Petersburg Faculty of Oriental Languages 22

  Stepanov Yuri, Russian convert to Islam 260

  Stinger, American anti-aircraft missile 203–5

  Sufi Puainda Mokhmad, mujahedin leader 259–60

  Sukhoparov Alexander, adviser to Afghan Communist party 106

  Suslov Mikhail (1902–82), Soviet Politburo member 77, 80, 237

  T

  Tabeev Fikryat, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 61, 75, 87, 105, 276

  Taj Bek Palace 89–91, 93, 102, 115, 215

  Tajikistan 13, 78, 87, 153, 305–6

  Taliban, Islamist movement in Afghanistan 32, 36, 123, 234, 260, 303–4

  Brings civil war to an end 302

  Operates in Central Asia 78

  Talybov Mikhail, KGB agent posing as Amin’s co
ok 95

  Tamberlane (1336–1405), conqueror 12

  Tanai Shah Navaz, Afghan officer, later defence minister 45

  Joint commander of Operation Magistral 214

  Taraki Nur Mohamed (1917–79), Afghan Communist president 7, 17, 39–40, 42, 50–54, 59, 62–9, 73, 81, 93, 95, 112

  Arrested by Daud 40

  Becomes Head of State 42

  Flies to Havana 62

  Intrigues against Amin 58

  Last meeting with Brezhnev 62

  Leader of Khalq faction 38

  Murdered 72

  Repeats requests for Soviet troops 55

  Summoned to Moscow March 1979 50

  Tarun Major, Afghan officer 62, 64, 66–7

  Tashkurgan, Afghan town, last HQ of 40th Army 291

  Ter-Grigoriants General 184

  Thatcher Margaret (1925–), British prime minister 113

  Tkach General B, commander of 40th Army, 1980–82 124

  Tkachev Colonel Anatoli, GRU, negotiates ceasefire with Masud 185–6

  Tsagolov Colonel Kim, critic of Soviet policy in Afghanistan 241

  Tsarandoi, Afghan government gendarmerie 90, 135, 137

  Tsevma Gennadi, Russian convert to Islam 258

  Tukharinov General Yu, first commander of 40th Army, 1979–80 84, 87, 124, 140

  U

  Ural mountains, Russia 255

  US policy aims 114

  Ustinov Dmitri (1908–94), Soviet defence minister 51–2, 54–5, 69, 74–5, 79, 125, 223, 229, 270

  Ceases to be a hawk 271

  Discusses Herat rising 46, 48–49

  Issues orders for invasion 77, 85–86,

  Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

  Sends paratroopers to defend Bagram 57

  Uzbekistan 13, 78, 153, 302

  V

  Vadud Captain, member of Taraki’s guard 72–3

  Varennikov Valentin (1929–2009), Soviet general 203, 227, 275, 285, 289, 310–11, 317

  Arrested for role in coup 312

  Attends Politburo meeting, May 1987 279

  Furious at Shevardnadze’s betrayal of military 288

  Involved in coup against Gorbachev 310

  Leads delegation to Kabul after withdrawal 296

  Negotiates ceasefire with Masud 285

  Pays respects at Masud’s grave 305

  Signs directive on press coverage of war 236

  Sorts out attack on Zhawar 214

  Strongly criticises Gorbachev in his memoirs 310

  Visits zastava 141

  Vaskov Igor, Soviet soldier 269

  Veselkov General, Soviet Interior Ministry adviser in Kabul 74

  Veterans (Afgantsy) 158, 173, 191–3, 215, 245, 249, 257

  Defend White House 311

  Discover the internet 325

  Figures for 329

  Memory plays tricks 115

  Problems of 313–27

  Return to Afghanistan as tourists 334