AFGHANISTAN SITUATION REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T01058R000507060001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 5, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

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 Directorate of Top Secret
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Afghanistan Situation Report
79-81 IMC/CB
Top Sen et
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5 November 1985
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Soviet forces carried out sweep operations near
Herat and were also active in other provinces,
probably in attempts to clear insurgents from
strategic areas before winter arrives.
cal compound in Jalalabad indicates either an outbreak
of disease or heavy casualties from recent fighting.
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Heavy fighting occurred throughout the month in Kabul
as the Soviets attempted to disrupt resistance control
in several strategic areas-~
--and the insurgents continued to pressure the
Soviet and regime forces in Herat, Qandahar, Kabul, and
other places.
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This document is prepared weekly by the Office of Near
Eastern and South Asian Analysis and the Office of
Soviet Analysis. Questions or comments on the issues
raised in the publication should be directed to
PUBLICATION NOTE
Unless major developments warrant otherwise, we will
not publish the AFGHANISTAN SITUATION REPORT next
week. The next report will appear on 19 November 1985.
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that major elements ot two motorized rifle regiments
subordinate to the 5th Guards Motorized Rifle Division
conducted combat sweeps in the Herat area last week.
Air units based at Shindand Airbase supported the
operations, which began about 22 October,
~ Some unit
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In the Kabul area, the
US Embassy reports that Soviet and Afghan troops con-
tinue their attacks in Paghman,
higher-than-normal helicopter operations from
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Activity within the Soviet medical compound at
Jalalabad increased significantly during September and
October. During September the Soviets erected 11 large
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general purpose tents in the medical compound, 25X1
only three to five tents 25X1
usually appear. By mid-October, the numbers of tents
had increased to 21 large general purpose and 11 squad-
size tents, a total capacity of approximately 500 25X1
beds. The Soviets placed screens around two of the
smaller tent groupings by the end of October.
Comment: The increase in medical activity most likely
is caused by disease, a chronic problem among Soviet
troops in Afghanistan.
quarantine areas. Alternatively, elements of the 56th
Air Assault Brigade--garrisoned at Jalalabad--took part
in multiple heliborne assaults to clear the Salang Pass
between Kabul and Pol-e Khomri in October and may have
sustained heavy casualties.
-- A Soviet soldier seeking refuge bolted into the
US Embassy in Kabul last Thursday, but departed
Monday with the Soviet ambassador. Soviet and
Afghan military units surrounded the US compound
and harassed Embassy personnel entering and
leaving; electric power to the Embassy was cut
off for at least two days. The situation has
returned to normal. In 1980, US Embassy per-
sonnel were holed up in the Embassy for almost
one week when regime forces blockaded the
Embassy after a Soviet soldier attempted to
defect; he also ultimately decided to leave with
Soviet officials.
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The new Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Inder
Pal Khosla, is discernibly pro-regime, according
to the US Embassy in Kabul, and studiously
avoids Western diplomats. US officials are
concerned that Khosla's behavior is contrary to
official Indian policy and could give Soviet and
regime officials the impression that India is
more sympathetic toward Afhganistan than it, in
fact, is.
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Afghanistan
International boundary
Province boundary
* National capital
Province capital
`-` Railroad
Road
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Fighting in Afghanistan remained intense during
October. There were several Soviet operations--
sometimes with Afghan regime forces--in early October
to clear strategic lines of communication and destro
insurgent bands and their bases.
part, the resistance continued to pressure Soviet and
Afghan forces in Qandahar, Herat, and Paghman, rocketed
Kabul, and inflicted more aircraft losses.
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Soviet units also conducted extensive air and sweep
operations in an attempt to clear the Paghman area
northwest of Kabul of insurgent strongholds.
US Embassy sources report that the Soviets
are constructing outposts and garrisons there in an
effort to secure the area, lon a security headache for
Soviet troops.
Insurgents Maintain Pressure in Other Areas
Despite heavy Soviet and Afghan activity, insurgents
maintained pressure in several other areas throughout
US Embassy sources indicate that heavy fighting
occurred day and night throughout the month in Qandahar
City, and the insurgents are gradually expanding their
control. After repeated resistance attacks, the Afghan
regime pulled its guard posts from the main bazaar in
Qandahar and conceded the area to the insurgents. US
Embassy sources report that a hundred regime troops
mutinied, killed their superiors, and defected to the
insurgents. Soviet troops remain holed up at the air-
port or in their garrisons, and 1,000 fresh Soviet
troops were sent to relieve those who had been there
for six months, according to US Embassy sources.
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Embassy sources indicate that the resistance conducted
a sustained rocket and heavy machinegun attack on Kabul
airport on 19 October and rocketed Kabul nearly every
day for a week.
Outlook
Soviet and regime operations in the Salang Pass
probably will disrupt insurgent activities only
temporarily. The Soviets did not garrison additional
troops to secure this area, and Masood was reportedly
resupplying his units. We expect increased airstrikes
and increased Soviet and regime ground operations--
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perhaps with redeployment of aircraft and personnel
from other parts of Afghanistan--to temporarily drive
insurgents from Herat and Qandahar. Because of the
difficulty of transporting supplies to Herat, guerrilla
groups there may face difficulty this winter countering
and sustaining operations.
5 November 1985
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Top Secret
Top Secret
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