CONDITIONS ALONG THE SOVIET-AFGHAN BORDER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006200230010-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2000
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: November 9, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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ArIp'roved For R0ease 2000/05/1B : LAA-Kuvo-2-04457lic6DNNFOi:A23011111
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IFI; FOR NIFibE 25X1A lin
COUNTRY .:-fghonis-tan
SUBJECT Conditions along the Soviet-irghen
Border
PLACE ?
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
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DATE DISTR., 50
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO 25X1X
REPORT NO.
ffehans in the border area stated that, since the outbreak of the war in
Korea, guar& and defenses on tne Soviet side had not been increased.
Powerful Soviet searchlights light the border every fifteen miles along
the Oxus River. These lights can be seen from as far may es Akeha, about
thirty 'miles south Of the border. Formerly, the lights which were trained
on Pats Kesar, a village on the Afghan side of the Oxus opposite Terme,
were so bright thot small print could be read at night- 1Vn official
protest was made to the USSR, and as a result the lights are turned on
every hour and are swept back end forth along the Oxus River,,
2,, About every two miles on the Soviet side of the Oxus River, and along the
land border, well-built and eell-equipped military posts are located.
flarker poles every fifteen mils or ao delineate the lend border near
Andkhui. Afghans in this area stated that the land on the Soviet side was
not grazed for a depth of about ten milea, end each full this area is
burned over to prevent smuggling across the border,
3. Little smuggling was reported along the border area, and to travel on the
road fromdAszar-i-Sharif to the Soviet border at Terme. Jiouever, the
Afghans stated that some Soviet eaeoline was brought into Sthis area, all
transported by camel, and there were subetantiel quantitie of Soviet
gasoline in Mazar-i-Sharif.* There appeared to be to traffic in the border
area north of Herat, but the Afehane ateted that Soviet gasoline was Leported
under the Ifghan-Soviet trade agreement of 1950. Sheep herderestated that
occasionally they smuggled in a good ram to improve their karakul flocks.
In Herat there was a plentiful supply of iranien gasoline. This reportedly
was being smuggled over the keenest-Iranian border in five-eallon tins.
4. A new road, which does not pass through Balkh, has been beilt from Veizar-i-
Sherif about sixty-five miles vest be Shibarghan. It crosses the ?ul-i-iman
bridge and continues ues;; about seven kilometers from the lieestone ridge
which borders the plains. The surface, Nede of crushed limestone, is
CONFIDENTIAL
CLASSIFICATION -us, OFFIClielS 01.TLY
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ARMY ? i PAR
DISTRIBUTION
FBI Lt?
Appro
This document is hereby regraded to
CONHDENTiAL in accordance with the
letter of 13 Octotor 1978 from the
Director of Central IntellIgence to the
Archivist of the United States.
Wrisriffetetitio2J00/05/18 :
Document No.
No Change la
Deeln?'
Class. Ck
Attila j
Defoe flu
1A-41DP82 00157RefainO23t10 ,
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CENTRAL
18 : CIA-RDP82-00457R006200230010-1
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rough ;almost all the bay from thc Balkh River to Shibarghca. There
were no signs of a road from an Afghan toma on the OXAAt Rivera
south to Akcha or ,Balkh.**
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a road running south
from vas to replace Vie route .from Termez.
7
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411,1100001,10/CC"TROL OFFICIALS r3,1
Approved For Release 2000/05/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457R006200230010-1