AFGHANS FEAR NEW OFFENSIVE BY SOVIETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000201710014-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: September 2, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/07: CIA-RDP90-00552R000201710014-7
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
2 September 1981
AFGHANS FEAR NEW OFFENSIVE BY SOVIETS
BY SUE BAKER
WASHINGTON
STAT
The Soviet Union is planning to 'exploit the gap'' between U.S.
administrations later this year by launching a major new offensive against the
guerrilla resistance in Afghanistan, according to an Afghan rebel spokesman.
Mohamad Nabi Salehi, Washington representative of the Islamic Unity of
Afghanistan Mujahideen, said he believes the Soviets will try to ''finish
Afghanistan'' with an increased campaign of ''genocide and oppression."
But Salehi, who says his organization represents more than 60 percent of an
estimated 100,000 Afghan guerrillas, vowed ''the people of Afghanistan will
fight for ever.' '
Salehi said he was particularly concerned about the implications for
Afghanistan of a win by Walter Mondale in November's presidential elections.
Although the Democratic Party has pledged to support ''the Afghan resistance
with material assistance, 11
Salehi believes Mondale has a "softer" approach to
the Soviet Union than President Reagan.
''The present administration at least has a clear policy ... at least they
are not pro-Russian," he said. ''If Mondale is elected, it could be worse."
But his main fear was that Moscow would take advantage of the nearly
three-month period between the election and the formation of a new
administration at the end of January.
''The Russians will finish Afghanistan ... they will exploit the gap,'' said
Salehi.
The Soviet Union invaded. Afghanistan in December 1979 and installed the
pro-Moscow regime of President Babrak Karmal. Since then, an estimated 105,000
Soviet troops, together with the Afghan army, has battled up to 100,000 Afghan
guerrillas.
Asked about reported CIA arms supplies to the Mujahideen fighters, Salehi
said: ''What we have received has been so pathetically inadequate and
ineffective, it is a condemnation to slow death.
''The Afghan Mujahideen have been given only enough to fight and die but not
enough to advance our cause of freedom,'' he said.
The Reagan administration officially denies supplying arms to the rebels, but
news reports have documented the supply of arms. The Washington Post reported
earlier this month that Congress had agreed to a further $50 million in aid to
the rebels.
It is widely believed the administration leaked details of the operation to
avert international demands for U.S. action,-While deliberately keeping the
quality and quantity of arms too low to prompt a Soviet reprisal.
continue
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/07: CIA-RDP90-00552R000201710014-7