U.S. SAYS AFGHAN REBELS INCREASE THEIR CONTROL IN NORTHEAST REGIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000302640112-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2012
• Sequence Number: 112
• Publication Date: January 11, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/26: CIA-RD
ART I CLE ItT?
NEW YORK TINES
ON PAGr.
11 JANUARY 1980
P90-00965R000302640112-6
U. S. Says Afghan Rebels Increase
Their Control in Northeast Regions
. By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Special es The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 ? The United
States reported today that Afghan insur-
gents had increased their control over the
countryside in two northeast provinces of
Afghanistan and that heavy fighting be-
tween the rebels and Soviet-backed Af-
ghan troops was taking place in and
around a key city on the road to Pakistan.
Briefing reporters on the latest intelli-
gence information, Badding Carter 3d,
the state Department spokesman, said
that Soviet troops, now estimated at more
than 85,000, continue to be reinforced but
had not so far engaged in any significant
military action with the insurgents.
Despite the freeze in Soviet-American
relations following the Soviet interven-
tion in Afghanistan, there were signs that
diplomatic talks might resume soon.
Administration officials said that Am-
bassador Thomas J. Watson Jr., who was
called home from Moscow last week as a
sign of American displeasure, is due to
return to the Soviet Union this weekend.
Moscow Envoy Returning
By coincidence, Ambassador Anatoly
F. Dobrynin, who returned to Moscow for
consultations on Dec. 10, before the Af-
ghan crisis, is expected back in Washing-
ton this weekend, officials said.
Meanwhile, officials said that Deputy
pher would probably fly to Brussels ne:t1
week to confer with Western allies on
steps already taken to penalize the Soviet
Union for its actions in Afghanistan and
to discuss further measures.
In addition, officials said that Richard
N. Cooper, Under Secretary of State for
Economic Affairs, planned to visit sev-
eral allied capitals next week to discuss
curbs on exports to Iran and on trade with
the Soviet Union...?
U.S. Pleased by Response
Today the State Deparment spokesman
Issued a statement saying that "the
United States is pleased by the positive
response on the part of our European
allies" to President Carter's decision to
cancel the sale of 17 million metric tons of
grain to the Soviet Union. -
The spokesman said that in addition to
the Europeans, Canada and Australia
had also promised not to make up the
Soviet grain deficit. Argentina has re-
fused too:. along with the embargo, but
lacks sufficient surpluses to make any
difference, the spokesman said. As a re-
sult, the spokesman said, "the Soviet
Union will be unable through purchases
of grain from other countries to meet the
major shortfall caused by the President's
decision." . . .
Secretary of State Warren M. Christ
,
"The United States feels that strong
allied backing in this area demonstrates
Western solidarity in the face of a direct
Soviet threat to international security
and will make clear to the Soviets that
they cannot undertalte aggression with
itnpugnity,"' he said.
Heavy Fighting Near Jalalabad
On the fighting in Afghanistan, the
spokesman said that "heavy insurgent
activity" was occurring around' Jalala-
bad, a key city in eastern Afghanistan
that is about 50 miles from the Pakistan
border and the Khyber Pass, the gateway
into western Pakistan.
"The rebels have hit some targets in-
side the city and have taken control of at
least one outlying district," he said.
The spokesman said that the insur-
gents, who are not organized under a uni-
fied command, had also "increased their
control over the countryside in Takhar
and Badaithshan provinces in the north-
east."
"In these areas," he said, "they seem
to be, at least on occasion, penetrating
into larger towns. The Soviet-sponsored
Afghan Government clearly is concerned
about outbreaks of civil unrest in urban
areas and has imposed curfews in major
cities."
-
STAT
, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/26: CIA-RDP90-00965R000302640112-6