4,1AUSTRAL1A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA SATURDAY, 20 MIARCH 1982
AFGHANISTAN DAY
Australia will commemorate Sunday, 21 March as. Afghanistan Day,
to recognise the continuing plight of the people of Afghanistan.
In doing so, Australia will be joining a number of countries,
including members of the Islamic Conference, European Parliament
and the European Community.
It is now more than two years since tile Soviet Union invaded
Afghanistan, overthrew the government, and took military control
of the country. It installed Babrak Karmal as head of a new
illegal regime, which has not secured wide international
recognition. Australia has not recognised and will not recognise
or support that regime. Soviet armed forces, now numbering
around 90,000-95,000, still occupy Afghanistan.. They show no
signs of withdrawing. They continue to carry out harsh
repressive action against the Afghanistan people, including
bombing of cities and villages, destruction of crops and
livestock, and the detention of thousands of citizens. These
Soviet military actions have precipitated one of the largest
single refugee problems in the world. Around three and a half
million Afghans have been driven into refuge in Pakistan and
in Iran. The agony of Afghanistan must not be forgotten.
By its invasion and continued military presence In Af ghanis tan,
the USSR has violated the nost elementary laws of international
behaviour. It has deprived Afghanistan of its sovereign, indep endent and
non-aligned status. It has flouted the United Nations charter
and all the international conventions which prohibit the use of
force except in self-defence, and prohibit foreign intervention
in another country's affairs. The Soviet Union has consistently
ignored repeated calls by the intLernational community for
withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Above all, the
USSR's continued intervention in Afghanistan projects political
uncertainty and instability into the sub-continent and beyond.
Because of the Soviet Union's disregard for the accepted norms
of international behaviour, Australia has made it clear that our
own relations with Soviet Union cannot be divorced f'rom-,
Soviet activities in Afghlanistan. This is why Australia has cut
back co-operation and exchanges with the USSR. / 2
-2-
There can be no end to the fighting and suffering, and no
political solution, until the Soviet troops leave Afghanistan.
A political settlement needs to be found on the following basis:
withdrawal of foreign troops;
full respect for the independence, sovereignty and
non-aligned status of Afghanistan, and
strict observance of the principles of non-intervention
and non-interference.
A background paper on Afghanistan, prepared by the Department
of Foreign Affairs is attached. o0o---
AFGHANISTAN
Background Over two years ago, on 27 December 1979, the
Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, overthrew the communist
government of Hafizullah Amin and took military control of
the country. It installed Babrak Karmal as head of a new
and illegal regime, which has not secured wide international
recognition. Soviet armed forces, now
numbering around 90-95,000, still occupy Afghanistan.
They show no signs of withdrawing. They continue to
attack the Afghan people, bombing cities and villages,
destroying crops and livestock, and keeping thousands
of citizens prisoner. These Soviet military actions
have precipitated one of the largest single refugee
problems in the world. Around three and a half million
Afghans have been forced to seek refuge in Pakistan and
in Iran. Within Afghanistan the Mujahideen continue to be
militarily active throughout the country, with growing
evidence of unity between the various groups. The
intensification of the Parcham-Khalq rivalry w. ithin the
Afghan Communist Party has continued, although Moscow
remains committed to Babrak Karmal and therefore to the
Parcham faction. Karmal recently appointed a new
Parchamite Prime Minister, Sultan Ali Keshtmand. The
Babrak Karmal regime has not won popular support, its
administration does not extend beyond the major cities
and towns, and it is totally dependent on Soviet military
support. There is no end in sight to the continuing
resistance by Mujahideen groups to the Soviet military
presence.
Military situation Fighting continues in all provinces within
Afghanistan; tension and conflict continue to increase in
the towns especially in Herat and Kandahar; and the Afghan
Army now reduced by purges, casualties and defections to a
force of about 25-30,000, no longer plays a primary role.
Soviet forces, which now total around 90-95,000, with a
further 26,000 across the border in the USSR bear the
brunt of much of the serious fighting against insurgent
groups, but have not been. able to inflict crippling losses
on them. Although the total forces have only marginally
increased, there have been qualitative changes in the type
of Soviet forces deployed in Afghanistan and the military
equipment which they have brought with them.
Despite superior Soviet fire power and complete
control of the skies, the insurgent groups, who number at
any one time from 30,000 to 50,000 fighting men in groups
of anything from 24 to 2-3,000, continue to fight well.
The insurgents are now better equipped, partly because of
weapons given to them by defecting Afghan troops, partly
because of weapons they have captured and weaponry being
supplied by outside sources.
Political infighting, between the ruling Parcham
faction of the People's Democratic Party and the former
dominant Khalq faction, has also meant that military units
supporting the Khalqis are less inclined to fight. As a
result the Soviet Union has systematically withdrawn much
of the mcdern equipment which it had supplied to the
Afghanistan Army, especially anti-aircraft weapons, so
that defecting Afghan units cannot give them to the
insurgents. ThoseAfghan units still considered to be
loyal and still involved in fighting suffer from poor
morale and lack of food and other supplies, especially
petroleum products, and they are resentful of their Soviet
commanders. Recent reports indicate a lessening of Soviet
attempts to increase control of territory and suggest that
the Soviet forces are limiting their role to consolidating
their hold on the major towns, communication centres and
important airfields. In particular Soviet/ Afghan forces
have had to fight hard to hold control over the cities of
Kandahar and Herat.
The Karma regime, conscious that the army has
been reduced from a total of 100,000 to around 25-30,000
men has made continuous efforts to conscript more men into
the army often by force. These efforts have largely
failed or been matched by desertions and have had the
counter-effect of swelling the numbers of the Mujahideen.
Effect on Pakistan
Pakistan feels itself under pressure from the
Soviet troops on its border with Afghanistan, and from the
approximately 2.5million Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Government is concerned at the possibility of
Soviet troops entering its territory in " hot pursuit" of
the Mujahideen: already there have been incidents of
helicopter gunships and aircraft entering Pakistan and
firing on ground targets. The USSR has commented that a
state of " undeclared war" exists between Afghanistan and
Pakistan. Pakistan has reached agreement with the United
States on a JUS3 billion military and economic package
spread over five years. Approximately half of the total
w ill be used to acquire new armaments and the United
States hopes thereby to strengthen Pakistan's resistance
to Soviet pressures. Pakistan continues to obtain
financial and other support from its West Asian
neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia.
International Developments and Response
By its invasion of Afghanistan the international
image of the Soviet Union has been badly damaged,
especially in its relations with the non-aligned
countries, in particular the Islamic countries. Almost
all major international bodies and associations have
called for the withdrawal of foreign forces and for steps
to be implemented that would allow Afghanistan to
determine its own future free from outside interference
and to allow it to regain its non-aligned status.
The most important forum in which the Soviet
Union has come under pressure is the United Nations.
Following the veto by the Soviet Union on 7
January 1980 of a Resolution in the UN Security Council,
the question of Afghanistan was transferred to an
emergency session of the 34th General Assembly, which, on
14 January 1980, adopted by 104 votes to 18, with 18
abstentions, a Resolution calling for " the immediate,
unconditional and total withdrawal of the foreign troops
from Afghanistan in order to enable its people to
determine their own form of government and choose their
economic, political and social systems free from outside
intervention, subversion, coercion or constraint of any
kind whatsoever". The Resolution, sponsored by 17
non-aligned States, called on the Security Council to
consider ways and means which could assist in its
implementation. On 19 February 1980 the Australian House-of
Representatives condemned the invasion of Afghanistan by
the Soviet Union inter alia as a gross violation of the UN
charter; referred to the January 1980 UN General Assembly
Resolution; and called for an immediate unconditional and
total withdrawal of Soviet troops.
At the 35th session of the General Assembly,
which began on 16 September 1980, an item was inscribed
concerning " The Situation in Afghanistan and its
Implications for International Peace and Security". The
Soviet Union's lack of response to the earlier call for
withdrawal was sharply criticised, and a new Resolution,
drafted principally by the Islamic Conference countries,
repeated the demand.
The main elements of the Resolution were
described by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan during the
debate on Afghanistan in the General Assembly on 17
November 1980: " first, the preservation of the
sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence
and non-aligned character of Afghanistan; secondly, the
right of the Afghan people to determine their form of
government and to choose their economic, political and
social system free from outside intervention, subversion,
coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever; thirdly,
the immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from
Afghanistan; and fourthly, the creation of the-necessary
conditions which would enable the Afghan refugees to
return voluntarily to their homes in safety and honour".
The crux of a political solution, he said, was the
immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghan
territory: " Obviously, what is implied is nothing other
than a total withdrawal of Soviet troops". The Pakistan
Foreign Minister also warned:
" No less ominous for the world order is the
contention that military intervention is
justified in the exercise of the right of
individual and collective defence against an
imaginary threat. Nor can the invasion of a
small non-aligned country like Afghanistan be
rationalised on the basis . of geo-strategic
considerations or doctrines. Furthermore, it
must be acknowledged that despite the injection
of a formidable military force the resistance of
the Afghan people has not only continued but
acquired new dimensions."
These views were echoed by a very large majority
of UN member States who, on 20 November 1980 voted in
support of the Resolution by 111 votes to 22, with 12
abstentions. On 18 November 1981, the UN General Assembly
adopted a Resolution reaffirming the Afghan people's right
to choose their own form of government free from outside
intervention or constraint and again calling for the
immediate withdrawal of foreign troops. This Resolution,
No. 36/ 34, was approved by 116 votes to 23, with 12
abstentions. This compares with the vote of 104 in favour
of a similar but shorter Resolution in January 1980 ( at
the Assembly's Emergency Session following the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979) and the 111 in
favour of the Resolution at least year's 35th General
Assembly. The Soviet Union's refusal to heed the
Assembly's recommendations, its maintenance of some 85,000
troops in Afghanistan during 1981, the continuing popular
resistance to the Soviet-imposed Babrak Karmal regime and
international concern about the continuing refugee problem
contributed to this sustained support for the General
Assembly resolution in 1981. The Soviet Permanent
Representative to the UN tried to dissuade the Assembly
from inscribing an agenda item on the " so-called" question
of the situation in Afghanistan, but he was defeated, and
the subject was raised by many speakers in the general
debate as well as in discussion of the Resolution itself
in mid-November. After recognising the importance of initiatives
by the Islamic and non-aligned countries in finding a
political solution for Afghanistan, the 1981 Resolution:
" Reiterates that the preservation of the
sovereignty, territorial integrity,
political independence and non-aligned
character of Afghanistan is essential for a
peaceful solution of the problem;
reaffirms the right of the Afghan people to
determine their own form of government and
to choose their economic, political and
social system free from outside
intervention, subversion, coercion or
constraint of any kind whatsoever;
calls for the immediate ' withdrawal of the
foreign troops from Afghanistan;
calls upon all parties concerned to work for
the urgent achievement, of a political
solution, in accordance with the provisions
of the previous Resolution, and the creation
of necessary conditions which could enable
the Afghan refugees to return voluntarily to
their homes in safety and honour;
renews its appeal to all States and national
and international organisations to continue
to extend humanitarian relief assistance,
with a view to alleviating the hardship of
the Afghan refugees, in co-ordination with
the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees."
It also asks the UN Secretary-General to continue his
efforts to solve the problem of Afghanistan and promote a
political solution there, and to keep the UN member States
informed of progress.
8.
Australia has given full support to all three
Resolutions and has welcomed the efforts of the UN
Secretary-General to find a solution. Australia endorses
the appcintment by Secretary-General de Cuellar of his
personal representative on Afghanistan, Mr D. Cordovez of
Equador. ( Mr de Cuellar himself occupied the position of
personal representative on Afghanistan to the former
Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Waldheim, from February
1980). Australia supports the efforts of the UN
Secretary-General's personal representative to negotiate a
political solution to the Afghanistan problem.
The Sbviet Union has also been criticised by such
organisations as the UN Human Rights Commission, the
Islamic Conference ( on three occasions, the most important
being on ? 1 May 1980), the Foreign Ministers of the
European Community, the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN
countries, at CHOGRM II in New Delhi in 1981 and at the
Melbourne CHOGM in October 1981, by the
Inter-Pzrliamentary Union, and by the February 1981 NAM
Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi.
Despite the overwhelming condemnation of the
Soviet Union by the international community there appears
to be little shift in the attitude of either of the Soviet
Union or the Afghan regime. This was made clear when a
proposal put forward by the UK Foreign Minister,
Lord Carrington with the support of the EC countries on
June 1981 was rejected by the Soviet Union as
unrealistic and unacceptable. The UK/ EC proposal is for a
two stage conference: Stage one would seek international
arrangements to create conditions in which
Afghanistan's independence and non-alignment
9.
can be assured. It would be attended by the
permanent members of the Security Council,
Pakistan, India, Iran and the Secretaries
General of the UN and the Islamic Conference
or their representatives.
Stage two would include representatives of
the Afghan people. It would try to reach
agreement on the international arrangements
proposed at the first stage.
Subsequently on 24 August 1981, the Karmal regime
released its latest proposal regarding a political
solution. The new proposal no longer insisted , upon
separate bilateral talks with Pakistan and Iran and would
enable tripartite talks to take place. In addition the
Karmal government no longer objects to the UN
Secretary-General or his representative taking part in
either bilateral or tripartite talks. These concessions
appear to be designed to soften international criticism of
the Soviet Union and Afghanistan at the UN and-to increase
pressure on Pakistan to begin negotiations. The proposals
were released shortly after the second visit by the then
UN Secretary-General's personal representative Perez de
Cuellar, to Kabul and Islamabad. Reaction by key
countries such as Pakistan, the United States etc. has not
been favourable, as the proposal carries with it the
implication that the Babrak government would gain some
degree of legitimacy under the cover of negotiations. The
proposal also does not address itself to the main issues
namely the withdrawal of Soviet forces before negotiations
can begin. It also continues to lay the blame on " foreign
interference" from Pakistan and Iran.
Subsequently both Pakistan and Afghanistan
presented views to each other through the office of the
Secretary-General in New York, but the exchange did not
get far. It is not clear whether these " proximity talks"
will resume. Iran is now pursuing its own proposal, which
calls for Soviet forces to be replaced by an Islamic force
( including Iranian and Pakistani elements) and the
creation of a National Assembly to agree on a political
basis for the future of the country. The National
Assembly would include representatives from the
Mujahideen. It is not clear how Iran would negotiate its
proposal with the Soviet Union and Afghanistan,, in view of
its present position of not discussing its views with
either of them.
At the Melbourne CHOGM in Oc, tober 1981, the
coipmunique item on Afghanistan reflected the earlier
strong language of UN and NAM meetings. It said:
Heads of Government expressed grave concern
at the situation in and around Afghanistan
and its implications both for the region's
peace and stability and for international
security. Although there were differing
perceptions about the developments leading
to the present situation, Heads of
Government were united in calling urgently
for a political settlement on the basisof
the withdrawal zf foreign troops and full
respect for the independence, sovereignty,
and non-aligned status of Afghanistan and
strict observance of the principles of
non-intervention and non-interference. They
affirmed the right of Afghan refugees to
11,
return to their homes in safety and honour.
They urged all concerned to work towards a
negotiated settlement which would leave the
Afghan people free to determine their own
future.
Refugees The situation in Afghanistan has generated a
significant outflow of refugees primarily to Pakistan and
Iran. There are an estimated 2.5 million refugees in
Pakistan and about 1 million in Iran.
International organisations including the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR), the World
Food Progr: mme ( WFP), and the International Committee of
the Red Cross ( ICRC), have been active in meeting the
basic needs of the refugees.
Australia is keenly aware of the special
difficulties which Pakistan is facing as a result of the
inflow of refugees into its territory. To ease the burden
of coping with these difficulties Australia has provided
assistance totalling approximately IA12 million to date in
the form of direct relief aid to the refugees. In 1981/ 82
Australia is supplying 25,000 tonnes of wheat, 300 tonnes
of high protein biscuits, and 40 tonnes of sugar through
the UNHCR and the WFP.
In addition, Australia provides economic
assistance to Pakistan in the form of food aid, project
assistance, and technical cooperation and training. The
total value of such assistance in 1980/ 81 and 1981/ 82 is
approximately $ A11.5 million.
12.
Post-Afghanistan Measures Against the Soviet Union
In its condemnation of the Soviet invasion. of
Afghanistan the Government imposed a series of measures
designed to curtail Australia's bilateral relations with
the Soviet Union. These measures include:-
MEASURES I
a) Suspension of bilateral scientific exchange
b) Soviet research vessels refused permission
to operate in Australian waters
c) Suspension of bilateral cultural exchanges
( including sporting exchanges)
d) Suspension of bilateral academic exchanges
e) Suspension of regular officials talks at
Foreign Ministry level
f) Suspension of fisheries co-operation
g) Suspension of Soviet proposals in aviation,
including the denial to Aeroflot of access
to Australia
h) Suspension of meetings of the bilateral
Mixed Commission on Trade and Economic
Co-operation
i) Suspension of official visits between
Australia and the Soviet Union by Ministers
and Senior officials
j) Australian support for the U. S. partial
grains embargo
k) Support for the Western campaign to boycott
the Moscow Olympics in 1980
L) Suspension of negotiations for the reciprocal
allocation of land and the building of new
Embassies in Canberra and Moscow
m) Cancellation of the Soviet trade promotion
exhibit at the 1980 Royal Agricultural
Show, Sydney DATE OF
MPLEMENTAT ION
9 January 1980
9 January 1980
January
January January January 1980
1980 1980 1980
9 January 1980
9 January 1980
9 January 1980
9 January 1980
9 January 1980
15 January 1980
15 January 1980
13.
n) Suspension of consideration of new Soviet
maritime initiatives 14 February 1980
o) Withholding of Special Government marketing'
and promotion assistance to Australian
exporters to the Soviet Union 14 April 1980
p) Banning Soviet cruise ships from using
Australian ports 31 May 1980
By its continuing occupation of Afghanistan, its
disregard of the views of many countries, and its refusal
to negotiate for a just solution, the Soviet Union has not
given the international community any cause to discontinue
its strong condemnation of what has occurred in
Afghanistan. -If anything events in Poland have served
only to reinforce the need to maintain its present
approach to the USSR. In these circumstances the
Government is not prepared to conduct normal bilateral
relations with the Soviet Union and has made its position
clear to the Soviet authorities. When in April 1981, the
United States decided to lift its partial grains embargo
for domestic political reasons this effectively removed
the basis for Australian participation in the partial
embargo. This decision on grain sales in no way
represented any retreat from the Government's strong
condemnation of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Al
the other measures remain firmly in place.
The Australian Government has implemented its
sanctions in consultation with other western governments.
There has been no change in the perception by western
governments of Soviet intervention in Afghan. Although
international condemnation and retaliatory measures have
not so far caused the Soviet Union to change its policies
towards Afghanistan, the Soviet Union has clearly suffered
in terms of loss of esteem in the eyes of third-world
countries ( especially Islamic and Non-Aligned states), and
the more hardened posture by western groups on such
strategic issues as NATO defence preparedness, with
o
14.
corresponding constraints on its activity e. g. with
respect to Poland. The international community has
therefore sound reasons for persisting with its opposition
to the Soviet presence in Afghanistan in the hope that
Soviet withdrawal will eventually be procured.
CHRONOLOGY OF NOTABLE EVENTS WITHIN AFGHANISTAN
SINCE APRIL 1 978
Apri 1978
-27 Apr'il 1978
Mia 197,
May-July 1978 President Daoud imprisons
anti-government Leaders including
Mohammad Taraki, Leader of the Khalq
( masses) faction of the communist
Peoples Democratic Party of
Afghanistan D. P).
Elements of the Afghan army and
airforce led by General Abdul Qadir
and Major As am Watanjar mutiny arid
lead . a successful revolt against
President Daoud. President Daoud,
members of his family and leading
Ministers and officials are killed
during the fighting.
lMohamna d Tara i. is appointed Prime
Minister end President, with the
Leader of the Parcham ( flag) faction
of the P. D. P,-Babrak Karmal., as
Deputy Prime Minister.
Small tribal groups in eastern
Afghanistan adjoining the Pakistan
border increase traditional
hostility towards the central
Government. Muslim leaders express
fears over the Godless nature of the
Government. Armed forces and
bureaucracy are ruthlessly purged to
eliminate pro-Daoud and right wing
elements.
S
July 1978
August 1978
August-December 1978
December 1978
February 1979 Because of his support of closer
relations with the Soviet Union,
Karmal and a number of his
associates are removed from
Government and appointed as
Ambassadors. Shortly afterwards
they are called traitors by Taraki
and take refuge in east-Eujropean
countries. Hafizullah Amin is
appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
General Abdul Qadir is arrested and
gaoled. S Soviet military and civilian
advisers begin to step up program of
replacing victims of purges. Total
number of Soviet advisers reaches
about 4,000-5,000.
S Reforms introduced by Taraki
and Amin are opposed by traditional
elements in Afghan society.
S Fighting in east Afghanistan
increases with the support of
extremist Muslim groups and other
tribes alienated by the reforms.
Insurgents describe themselves as
" Mujahideen" freedom fighters.
A Soviet-Afghan Treaty of Friendship
is signed.
American Ambassador in Kabul is shot
dead with possible connivance of
Afghan Security Forces whilst being
held captive in a Kabul hotel.
March 1979
September 1979
October-Decermber 1979
December 1979 Taraki hands over Prime Ministership
to Amin who toughens Government
position against freedom fighters.
There is fighting throughout the
country. All religious groups are
now in opposition. Soviet military
advisers become more active in
directing Afghan armed forces.
Further purge of armed forces
takes place. Major Aslam Watanjar
is expelled and disappears. Army
morale suffers from purges and from
continued harassement by freedom
fighters. President Taraki returns from
the Havana Summit via Moscow and is
replaced by Amin following a
shooting incident at a meeting of
the Revolutionary Government on 14
September. Taraki's death is made
public on 9 October.
Major fighting breaks out between
the Afghan army and freedom
fighters, particularly in east
Afghanistan and in the remote
north-eastern province of Badakhshan.
US Department announces concern at
build-up of Soviet military
formations on the Soviet border and
within Afghanistan, particularly at
Bagram airbase.
24-25 December 1979
27 December 1979
January 1980 Soviet force of about 2,500 land at
Bagram military air base, 40 miles
north of Kabul. Their forward move
to Kabul Airport is reported by
foreign Press. The Soviet invasion
begins. Soviet transport planes land with
increasing frequency at Kabul
Airport, bringing troops and
equipment. Soviet troops seize the
Ministry of the Interior and largely
neu-tralise the Kabul garrison of the
Afghan Army by disarming troops and
inmmobilising vehicles.
S A statement by Babrak Karmal
that he has taken over the
government and is appealing for
Soviet military assistance is
broadcast from Termez, on the Soviet
side of the River Oxus.
S Kabul Radio broadcasts names of
new Revolutionary Council, headed by
Babrak Karmal. Regime announces
that Amin has been executed, and
that on the basis of the
Afghan-Soviet Treaty of December
1978, it has requested the Soviet
Union to render urgent political and
military assistance.
General Qadir znd Major Watanjar are
included in the new Government.
Fighting continues but is hampered
by the difficult terrain and winter
conditions.
February 1980
March-May 1980
May 14 1980
June 1980 Morale and efficiency in the Afghan
Army further deteriorates in face of
desertion, casualties, lack of
supplies etc. Freedom fighters step
up activities. Afghan and Soviet
forces are called in to quell major
urban disturbances, following
effective national strike.
Considerable casualties in Kabul.
Soviet forces play greater role in
counter-insurgency operations.
There are reports of villages being
razed and of the use of chemical
weapons. Fighting continues, particularly in
Konar and Paktia provinces. Karmal
tries to wider s upport by including
experienced Administrators in
bureaucracy. Urban tension
continues. Soviets increase
activity and a're believed to have
strengthened their forces.
Karmal regime issues program for
political settlement proposing
bilateral talks with Iran and
Pakistan. President Brezhnev announces limited
withdrawal of troops and tanks.
Faction fighting within the People's
Democratic Party increases. Further
defections take place by Afghan army
units to the Mujahideen. Soviets
attack rebel groups near Kabul.
July 1980
August 1980
September-January 1981
April 1981
May 1981 Mujahideen increase activity. In
Ghazni province a major Afghan army
group rebels and is attacked by
Soviets. Karmal begins purge of
Khalq faction Ministers and
officials and centralizes power
under his authority.
Further call is made to young men to
fight in Afghan army, including some
groups earlier exempt. Major
fighting occurs around Herat and in
eastern provinces. Reports come in
of Soviets removing anti-tank and
anti-aircraft weapons from Afghan
army. Karmal visits Moscow. Afghan army
is reduced to about 25,000 due to
casualties, purges and defections.
Regime begins efforts to create
National Fatherland Front in order
to increase support.
Saudi Arabia breaks off diplomatic
relations with Afghanistan. U. N.
Secretary-General's personal
representative, Perez de Ceullar,
visits Kabul and Islamabad for
initiation of talks on a political
settlement. Karmal denies involvement of Soviets
in murder of President Amin and
reiterates that Soviet troops were
invited in by Amin and Traki, ns
well as by himself.
June 1981
July 1981
August 1981 7.
Fighting continues between Khalq and
Parcham factions. Heavy fighting
continues around Herat and there are
further defections by Afghan
troops. Soviet airbase at Bagram is
attacked. Three MIG-21s of the
Afghan Airforce attack a' passenger
bus in Pakistan. Sultan Ali
Keshtmand is made Prime Minister;
Karmal remains as President.
Inaugural congress of Fatherland
Front begins 15 June. Major
fighting is reported in Nangarhar
province. More Parcham political figures are
assassinated. Large scale
Soviet/ Afghan operations take place
in Paghman area near Kabul.
Demonstrations take place in Kabul
protesting against the deployment of
military cadets in Paghman and their
subsequent high casualty rate.
Karmal regime facilitates hijack of
a Pakistan aircraft. Security
measures are tightened in Kabul.
Further Soviet offensives take place
in Panjshir Valley, North-East of
Kabul, on 24 August.
Afghanistan announces revised stance
on possible negotiations leading to
a political settlement of the issue
of Soviet occupation. It accepts
concept of trilateral talks with
Pakistan and Iran involving U. N.
participation on conditions which
September 1981
October-November 1981
December 1981 imply recognition of Karmal
government and acceptance of the
Soviet argument that " outside
interference" necessitated the
invasion and occupation.
New conscription order covers all
males under 35 years old, including
reservists, and leads to
demonstrations in major cities with
large number of arrests. Heavy
fighting takes place in Kandahar.
Soviet Panjshir offensive fails.
Soviet and Afghan administration
buildings in Kabul are attacked.
Serious fighting continues in
Kandahar, city said to be largely
under control of the Mujahideen.
Fighting continues in main
provinces, including Herat and
Paghman.
Pakistan Government claims in a
protest to Kabul that Afghan
helicopter gunships attacked buses,
villages and a frontier post,
killing five people. Pakistan
complains that its air space was
violated 23 times between 5 October
and 2 November. Afghan sources
in Islamabad say hundreds of people
were killed in five days of fierce
attacks by Soviet-Afghan forces on
village. near Kandahar.
January 1982
February 1952 Soviet/ Afghan forces withdraw from
fighting north of Kabul. Reports
circulate that Afghan army is
suffering loss of morale and is
unwilling to fight. Major-General
Abdul Qadir is appointed Acting
Minister of National Defence.
Fighting continues in many parts of
the country despite harsh winter
conditions. Soviets bomb and shell
Kandahar in effort to destroy parts
of Mujahideen hold on the city. A
Soviet General is killed when his
helicopter is shot down.
Elections for delegates to Afghan
Communist Party begin. . There is a
large exodus from Kandahar after
heavy bombardment. Fighting
continues elsewhere in Herat, Parwan
and Bamyan, with harsh repr isals in
areas reclaimed by regime forces.
' 0.4