SECRET CIA REPORT ON AFGHAN INVASION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100060043-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: June 2, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

~ II Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/23: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100060043-8
01
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
2 June 1980
p'., f
Secret. '.CIS report on
Afghan 0
By John P: Wallach
Examiner Washington Bureaa
WASHINGTON -: The CIA has concluded
that . "there is considerable evidence that the
Soviets intend a permanent military presenctie" in
Afghanistan similar. to the 35-year-old occupation
of East Germany and are using the war to test
untried weapons "in a combat environment-
" Many of these items of equipment," the top.
secret study concludes, `are not actually newly.
introduced but this is the first time they have
been evaluated under combat conditions." -
A copy of the report was made available to
The E~xaminer.
Several thousand students also have. been sent
to the Soviet. Union and East Europe for indoctri-
nation. "Russian is fast becoming the nation's
second language.", the report states.
So total is Afghan dependence on Moscow
that Babrak Karmal, the Afghan prime minister.
is said to be.a: virtual prisoner- of. the Soviet
Union. -"Except for a dozen sentries at the main
-gate, the security of the old palace where he lives
is in Soviet hands. ' -
"Babrak's bodyguard, chef, driver, doctor and
six chief advisers are all Soviets. His isolation is
d f ILc a he~ study sad s 'that
his fat told Babrak never to enterThi`s` ii`ouse
ew retinue. The old man is to
Soviet military 'headquarters Is under constrti
tion north of Kabul '
? In addition to arresting 8.,and.10?yearol
children who are protesting the Russian' occupy
tion "Army and police pups gangs are not
raiding residential areas in Kabul, searching fo
young males down .to 15 years despite Afghan
.stan s legal draft age of n25 years"
This results from' the defection of almost t??c
thirds of Afghanistan's regular 100,000?man arm.
and the. failure' of a recent campaign to recrul
40,000 troops despite incentives of free trips b
Moscow for NCO. and officer training, pay raisei
and bonuses for extending service.
the S
i
ov
e .,, ion ,,. contempt hundred Af
personnel carirrs, mui ..,
were recr-tiftecL
launcher ~~ _ : ? Economic dependence
also "s growing to ,The' Soviet aUnion also has had to replace iti
terns, automatic mortars, fixed-wing and heiub
ter aircraft, armored minelaying vehicles, auto-
the point that CIA an sts ro invading army, which was heavily coo
math: grenade launchers, assault rifles and "a kM Soviet doming- posed of soldiers from Soviet Moslem republics t
new battle management computer system " tion; of the tan economy has been insured.'.-- Central Asia, with regular army troops, some of
new
the new configurations the kinds of dtvt- "for years to. come." Soviet engineers have start , whom have been transterred froth Eastern Eu?
sions that they mainly leg the* construction of a; railway hnkt ro
y brought in, the motorized pe
developed the Russian border to the Kabul area
rifle divisions, were basically eloped forusein ..:: The Moslems were called up for the first three
?~~,~ d
0
i
ti -
f
the European theater-or perhaps against Chula
a senior intelligence official explained
"They are. hardly adapted for the kind of
relatively small unit operations in very difficult
terrain against guerrilla forces. which are their
m
na
on o
Afghan natural gas : months of the invasfett. Their tours could not be
resources the controls for the pipeline'are in - extended without the declaration of a, national
Soviet terrritory suggests -a Soviet intention to 'emergency, something the Kremlin feared would)
exploit other Afghan resources believed to be of conflict with its well-grvased "
economic. significance," the report states pea
As a result,~regtilar Soviet army ey"troops had offenhad to
hi
h
v
"
e, t
e So
iets are virtual y feeding be used. The standard tour of duty for them
problem In Afghanistan.".he said. As a result, the w
Soviet army of about 85,000 has had to Improvise Afghanistan. Several large grant-in-aid wheat de ,reportedly is two years. Another indication of the
adaptations on a host of equipment liveries have been announced, the latest on 30 long term nature of biaecow's plans is. the tact
''They are putting more slits into their helicrop April for 140.000 tons. The insurgency is having a that dependents of these troops as well as the
ter" both beeindand through the oo order to major impact on food production -Russian civilian. advisers have started returning
be able to install additional the r whkfi "Soviet deliveries will increase in in port": to Kabul
be be able tall be fired m'c e guns
the people hih the "CIA projects, "perhaps to the point of total '. They began to 'come In last March but were
otherwise are firing at the Soviets" from moon- I-M Russians also are building the internal Ya cuated
in t" large began infnumbershctafter the casual.
tam tops, the official added. Infrastructure to support heavy Afghan
This is the evidence cited the CIA st ppott the takeover for dee- ties on Russian civilians,
that This
an mite mi=-t ades ahead.. But the CIA report is not very optimistic about
thaRwr t o cu rt the orltta~ti40 of Two permanent bridges are being built acrd the chances of these insurgents. who lack a
the Amu Darya River that separates Afghanistan
. fg tasociety:
+ from the Soviet Union. `These two bridges will the outside arms re, and more important.
eover by Boiler officials of senior help to continue their struggle
Cabinet posts in every Afghan m replace Soviet pontoon bridges utilized by the Indefinitely.
CCabinet posts
Ministry where Afghans mist ghngs y except Soviet overland Invasion force which moved into .
"Despite their
try occupy Afghanistan in hardy constitution and some
deputy director positions. "because of the min= late December 1J~Ji ." the report What martial life style, the tribesmen are ill- >
states.
otrys visibility and its dealings with foreigners.,", .. ' . ., equipped to face modem military firepower," the
.`All delty dit dealing the report states: The Soviets also are building up fuel reserves CIA study. states. "Without formal military train-
?he t dIctry of refStviet.' the r Cultures. by constructing permanent underground gasp- Ing they cling to classic guerrilla tactics with
- and is dine and water storage facilities at military bases . , which th
perhaps the most. blatantly Soviet-dominated
throughout the coon ey are familiar,
with virtually all press releases being produced been ? try. Tie, however, have "They are extremely vulnerable to attack by
by Soviet personnel Soviets have even been troop Pe sabotaged disloyal Afghan armored vehicles and particularly aircraft"
a~sigtted as editors of Afghan newspapers." army troops Permanent quarters, Including offi The report also states that "medical assistance
ears clubs. also are being constructed. is virtue
In addition, since last fall Soviet civilian advi Hardened ammunition storage facilities are stani border nil or available and concludes only freedom fight-
sets said to number well over 10,000 have been being built at the huge Soviet base at Pole- ers are experiencing increasin casualties
drafting a new Afghan constitution and supervis? . Khomri as is a permanent commuNeatlons facili-. ' " g
ing the introduction of new Marx st text books In hatred of the Sov rata. bolstered by io to tithe
ty to replace mobile skid communications used hatred of the Sov the tribesmen contin tinue the
"wry sc H during the first months of the invasion. A large fight despite little external support" , j
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/23: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100060043-8