What the people of Afghanistan fought against the

History 07/02/20 What the people of Afghanistan fought against the “spooks”

Even in 2019 in Afghanistan there is no single political nation, the population is divided into tribes and nationalities. What can we say about the times when Soviet troops took part in the Afghan war

Who are all these people

Ethnic diversity on the one hand complicates the situation for the Soviet soldiers, on the other allowed based on one group of people to fight with others. As he writes in the book “War in Afghanistan”, released in 1991, the team of authors under the leadership of candidate of historical Sciences, Colonel Peak, Afghanistan is home to more than 20 ethnic groups five ethnic groups: Iranian, Indian, Turkic-Mongolian, Afro-Asiatic and Dravidian. More than half of the population — the Pashtuns.

it is Worth noting that the situation on the nationality thing is quite controversial. For example, the same Pashtun can be considered as Afghan or Pakistani, depending on which side of the border is. The same situation — with Baluchis, with the difference that instead of the Pakistan — Iran. Nation, in turn, are divided into tribes, the tribes into clans, the clans into families and genera. And all this ethnic salad heavily spiced with divergent interests and motivations.

On the right side

On the side of the Soviet troops were fighting regular units loyal to the Kabul regime: tsarandoy (police), KHAD (the Afghan KGB), the army. In the army the most efficient unit was the 53rd division of the DRA, under the command of Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, born in a mixed family: the father and Uzbek mother turkmenka. Dostum’s influence extended to civil Uzbeks, making it easier for the Soviet troops. Guards, concealing in Afghanistan approaches to the Soviet-Afghan border, held on the edge of Tajikistan, more interacting with carandam, Russshows a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, military intelligence officer, ex-Deputy of the Odessa city Council from Communist party of Ukraine and the emigrant Vasily Polishchuk.

the Soviet high command deliberately beginning to form so-called “Muslim troops” with a predominance of Uzbeks, Turkmens or Tajiks — for better interaction with the public. Sometimes the help came from an unexpected quarter. Mohru Khodjaev, a military translator in Afghanistan, who now lives in Tajikistan. tells how one day their saved local. Him, wounded, to assist and, when a few days during a humanitarian mission group “shuravi” was surrounded by spooks, a resident spoke in favor and no one was killed. In turn, Colonel-General, hero of the Soviet Union Boris Gromov says that is not included directly in the bands of the people very cordially treated Soviet soldiers and even helped them in the course of military operations. Lieutenant Colonel Igor Sheludko told in the media as the Afghan boys, bachata, established relations with the Soviet soldiers, including mutually beneficial exchange of goods and never only did not participate in the share of spooks, but even by the stones in “Soviets,” not rushed.

in addition, the self-defense groups and tribal formations were on the side of the Soviet troops, who fought with their ancient archenemies.

in Afghanistan, there was a division on the “Vova” and “Yurchik”. The first was called the supporters of the Mujahideen, and the second their opponents. Later, in the 90s, during the civil war in Tajikistan, the names of the parties became almost official.

Situational with Soviet special forces, fought with the mujahidin caravans in the mountains cooperated with the representatives of the Afghan hill tribes, writes Alex we briefly in the book “special Forces in Afghanistan.”

was recorded even a single case if you do not transition warlord on our side, at least — long ceasefire in 1982-1983, at the initiative of Ahmad Shah Massoud, an ethnic Tajik, “the lion Pantisera”, as he was called after the Soviet troops nine times failed while trying to dislodge it from the Panjshir valley. Massoud was the only Mujahideen leader who signed the truce with the “shuravi”.

Konstantin Baranovsky

Source:
© Russian Seven

Featured articles Share: Comments Comments on the article “What the people of Afghanistan fought against the “spooks”” Please log in to leave a comment! br>
Share on Tumblr