Afgantsy

INDEX

40th Army 85, 122, 128, 133, 135, 143, 195, 198

A unique army 144

Aircraft losses 205

Corruption 189

Crime statistics 173, 227

Disbanded 308

Disciplinary measures 225

Drinking and drugs 190

Enters Afghanistan 84

Equipment 197

Formation

108th Motor-rifle Division 55, 87–8, 175–6, 227

12th Guards Motor-rifle Regiment 230, 252

15th Special Forces Brigade 133

180th Motor-rifle Regiment 127

201st Motor-rifle Division 87, 142, 175, 227, 291, 305

The division fights on 305

22nd Special Forces Brigade 133

345th Guards Independent Parachute Assault Regiment 82, 87, 91, 105, 182, 195, 214, 216, 290, 317, 325

9th Company 116, 215

Suppresses demonstration in Tblisi 1989 308

56th Guards Independent Airborne Assault Brigade 87–8, 172, 176, 214, 217–18

5th Guards Motor-rifle Division 55, 87, 174–5

66th Independent Motor-rifle Brigade 154, 156, 174, 227, 229

70th Independent Motor-rifle Brigade 227

860th Independent Motor-rifle Regiment 87, 157–8, 171, 173, 188, 199, 227–9, 242

Epic march of 176

Trashes base on departure 284

Operations of 209

Reunions of 325–6

Formidable fighters, despite criticism 144

Four main bases 175

Health problems resemble those in Crimean War 175

HQ in Amin’s old palace 142

Inadequacy of strategy 123

Invasion route 86

Large operations on Pakistan border and in Pandsher Valley 213, 215

Living conditions 169

Mobilisation 121

Muddled chain of command 85

Nature of fighting 197

Ordered to begin active operations 140

Politicians fail to welcome the soldiers back 293

Press gangs 137

Soviet troops remain in Afghanistan after 40th Army leaves 294

Success nullified by two basic misjudgements 124

Tactics 129, 132–3, 207

Use of elite forces 133

9th Company, film 215

Abdullaev Yusuf, Soviet youth adviser 164–5

Abdur Rahman Khan (1840?—1901), Afghan ruler 13, 15, 26–8, 34, 44, 63

Abdurrahman, deputy chairman of Communist Youth organisation 152

Abram Andrew, English traveller 35

Abramov, interpreter 107

Adamishin Anatoli, Soviet diplomat, criticises invasion in diary 110

Advisers 7, 106, 152, 162, 164–5

Casualties 45, 53, 166

Foreign advisers with mujahedin 134

Helping to suppress rebels? 53, 167

Idealism of 149

Interpreters 153

Military advisers 124, 150

Not targetted by mujahedin 160

Numbers increase in 1979 150

Numbers run down from 1986 168

Party advisers 151

Poor results in the countryside 162

Security arrangements 161

Senior advisers in Kabul replaced 74

Murdered 139

Undermine Afghans’ responsibility 148, 176

Intelligence tasks 166

Youth advisers 151

Afganets—inhabitant of Afghanistan, hot wind, Soviet veteran 194, 326

afgani, Afghan currency 165

Afgantsy, veterans of war in Afghanistan. See: Veterans

Afghan army 151, 272, 279

Attitude of Soviet soldiers towards 138

Betrayal of 223

Brutality of 232

Daud procures Soviet weapons for 16

Desertions 136

Dependent on Soviet supplies 296

Everywhere on defensive 299

Will it resist Soviet invasion? 80

Mutiny in Herat 6

Penetrated by mujahedin 136

Politburo decides to supply specialists and arms, March 1979 49

Short-lived success of assault on Zhawar caves 214

Size, 1979 and 1989 136

Afghan government 124

Accused of betraying Islam 51

Counterproductive policies 123

Exploits divisions among Soviets 61

Fails to mend its ways 53

Issues radical programme 42

Loses authority 59

Panics after Herat rising 7

Signs bilateral agreement with Pakistan 281

Unable to hold territory captured by the Russians 216

Afghan syndrome see: PTSD

Afghanistan 299, 316–17

American interest revives, 1977 33

American invasion, 2001 325

Americans consider incorporating into Baghdad Pact 30

Attempts at modernisation 15

Briefly invaded by Soviets in 1929 29

British and Russian paranoia 23

British designs on 24

Burdensome legacy of Durand Line 28

Destruction after 1979 328

Geography, people, history 12

German influence 30

Good relations with Soviets after 1919 28

Ideal for guerilla warfare 128

Impact of Soviet war 331

Post-war attitudes of Afghans 335

Resistance to Communists spreads 58

Russian designs on 18

Situation deteriorates, Autumn 1979 75

Soviet Congress condemns invasion 328

Afsotr, Afghan-Soviet Transport Company 209, 300

Ahmad Shah Abdali (c.1722–73), Afghan ruler 13–14

Aid

Brings Russians few political dividends 148

Figures for Soviet aid 147

Given by Americans, Russians and Germans before 1979 146

Major Soviet irrigation project 147

Practical value of Soviet aid unclear 148

Russians build Polytechnic Institute in Kabul 148

Soviet aid to Najibullah 296

Ainaksk copper mine 240

Akbari, head of Afghan security police 59

Al-Azhar University, Cairo 17

Aleksandrov-Agentov Andrei, Brezhnev’s diplomatic adviser 42

Aleksievich Svetlana, Soviet journalist 323

Aliev Mahmed, Soviet adviser 105–6

Alksnis Colonel Viktor, critic of Gorbachev 309

Alliance of Seven 200–201

Islamic Party of Afghanistan 202

Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hekmatyar) 184

Islamic Society of Afghanistan (Rabbani) 184

Amanullah Shah (1892–1960), Afghan ruler 15–17, 29, 34

Amin Hafizullah (1929–79), Afghan Communist President 7, 42, 59–60, 62–9, 73–4, 77–8, 82, 90

Abortive KGB attempts to kill him 94

Accuses Soviet ambassador of lying 72

Afghan people welcomes overthrow 106–7

Alleged contacts with Americans 40, 71

Co founder of Afghan Communist party 17

Death of 98

Furious reaction to Soviet protest 71

Gives orders that aircraft using Bagram be shot down 68

Moscow begins to think of removing him 74

Moves to Taj Bek palace 89

Poisoned at lunch 95

Strengthens hold on power 58

Purges officer corps 136

Amin’s palace cat 102

Amstutz Bruce, US charge d’affairs 71, 79

Amu Darya (Oxus) river 18–19, 27–8, 87, 142, 146, 205

Anava, village in Pandsher valley 182, 216

Andrianov Vladimir, orientalist, criticises war 245

Andropov Yuri (1914–84), Chairman of KGB 49, 52, 56, 74, 79, 109, 123, 237, 324

Accuses Amin of contacts with CIA 77

Congratulates Karmal on assumption of power 103

Considers covert ways of removing Amin 63

Determined to get rid of Amin 73

Illness and death, January 1984 271

Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

Reports that situation in Kabul is becoming more stable, February 1980 270

Sets up Kaskad special forces unit 134

Succeeds Brezhnev, November 1982 271

Views on Afghan request to send troops 46

Anglo-Afghan wars 15

Antonenko Colonel, Commander of 860th Regiment, views on women 157

Anwar, mujahedin commander 183

Arg (Presidential palace) 34, 41, 63, 82, 89–90, 139

Army of the Indus 283, 297

Arutiunov Lieutenant 220

Asadabad, Afghan town 133

Asadullah, head of Afghan counterintelligence 94

Atrocities 225, 234, 244–5, 302

Afghanistan Justice Project report 231

Collateral Damage 230

Committed by mujahedin 214, 227, 232, 254, 296

Geok Tepe, massacre, 1881 24

Helicopter attacks on villages 256

Mass graves at Bamyan and Herat 76

Mine Action Coordination Centre 235

Western propaganda successfully portrays Russians as particularly brutal 234

Auckland Lord (1784–1849), Governor General of India 21

Aushev Ruslan, officer, Hero of Soviet Union 207–8, 257–9, 269, 326

Babadzhan General, Afghan staff officer 87

Babchenko Sasha, Soviet youth adviser 164, 166

Babur (1483–1530), Moghul emperor 27

Buried in Kabul 12

Badaber, PoW camp in Pakistan 265–6, 269

Badakhshan, Afghan province 171, 176

Badarak, village in Pandsher valley 261

Bagram air base 54, 68, 206–7, 216, 261

Last Soviet aircraft depart 290

Soviet paratroopers sent to guard 57

Baikonur, Soviet cosmodrome 78

Bakharak, Base of 1st Battalion of 860th Regiment 177–81, 199, 284, 321

“Bakharak Massacre” 209

Bakhturin Colonel, security officer at Soviet embassy 68

Baku, capital of Azerbaijan 309

Bala Hissar, castle 26, 53

Balashikha, KGB training centre outside Moscow 69

Balashin Abdullah, Turkmen spy 261

Balkh, ancient Afghan city 29, 86

Bamyan, Afghan province 206

BAPO, military propaganda unit 156

Bards, soldier singers and poets 138, 193

Baryatinski Prince, warns of British aggression 22

Basir, mujahedin leader 334

Batalionnaya Razvedka, popular soldiers’ song 194

Battleship Potemkin (film) 115

Bekovich Captain Alexander, failed expedition to Khiva 18–19

Bennigsen General, thinks Russian campaign against India impracticable 20

Bessus, Persian pretender 216

betonka, concrete highway, built by Russians and Americans 86

Bhutto Benazir (1953–2007), Pakistani Prime Minister 32, 260

Bizyukov Major Nikolai, killed in Herat rising 45

Black Tulip

Aircraft (AN-12) bringing bodies of fallen back from Afghanistan 192, 253–5

Song about the returning dead 192, 253

Blinushov, Andrei, soldier 237, 254–6

Blowpipe, British anti-aircraft missile 203

BMP infantry fighting vehicle 197, 220

Bogdanov General, plans invasion of Afghanistan 45, 54, 68–9

Bogomolov, Professor Oleg 108

Bonapartism 309

Bonner Yelena, Soviet civil rights activist 108

Borovik Artem, Soviet journalist 61

Boyarinov Colonel Grigori, special forces commander 56, 92, 94, 97–9, 116

braga, home-brewed beer 190

Brezhnev Doctrine 112

Brezhnev Leonid (1906–82), Soviet politician 77, 270, 324

Congratulates Karmal 104

Death, November 1982 271

Health begins to fail 46

Hopes for detente 46

Learns of Communist coup 42

Looks for way out of Afghanistan 270

Meets Taraki 52

Opposes intervention 49

Orders condign punishment for atrocity 229

Upset by murder of Taraki 73, 80

Row with Daud 33

Visits Afghanistan in 1964 33

Warns Taraki about Amin 62

Brzezinski Zbigniew, US National Security Advisor 111, 114, 333

Believes Afghanistan unlikely to become Soviet Vietnam 113

BTR armoured personnel carrier 135, 157, 193, 197, 292

Bukhara, Central Asian city 19, 21–2

Burnes Alexander (1805–41), British representative murdered in Kabul 21, 25

Bush George H W (1924-), US President 258, 304

Bystrov Nikolai, Soviet soldier, becomes Masud’s bodyguard 261–2

Carter Doctrine 113

Carter Jimmy (1924-), US President 112–14, 333

Casualties 226

Accidental deaths written off as battle casualties 177

Comparison between Kabul and Panama City 107

Deliberate attempt to reduce Soviet casualties 142–3

Disproportion between military and civilian casualties 328

During fighting around Russian parliament, 1993 312

Formula for calculating mujaheddin losses 222

Rapid evacuation from battlefield 175

Soviet casualties peak before Gorbachev comes to power 272

Soviet, in 1st period of war 140

Soviet, in 2nd period of war 142

Soviet, in 3rd phase of war 142

Soviet, in fourth phase of war 143

Cavagnari Louis (1841–79), British representative murdered in Kabul 25

Chagcharan, Afghan town 164, 207

Charikar, Afghan town 26, 206–7, 217

Chayavu, Masud’s prison 262

Chechnya, region of Russia 175, 258, 263, 322, 327

cheki, Soviet army currency 158

Chernavin Admiral Vladimir, Commander-in-Chief of Soviet Navy 310

Chernyaev Anatoli, Gorbachev’s diplomatic adviser 281, 288

Advises talks with mujahedin leaders 273

Criticises invasion in diary 109

Chief Soviet Military Adviser 42, 55, 74, 83, 85, 229, 240, 290

Residence attacked by mujahedin 159

CIA 203, 285

Alleged CIA officer captured 139

Attempts to buy back Stingers 205

Considers moving electronic facilities to Afghanistan 78

Early proposals to support mujahedin 114

Fears post-war regime in Kabul will be anti-American 296

Growing support for mujahedin 114

Amin not a CIA agent 79

Officers killed by suicide bomber 214

William Casey becomes Director 114

Codrington Captain, British officer massacred in First Afghan War 206

Commanders 124

Lack background for war in Afghanistan 125

Wrestle with problem of preventing atrocities 225

Conscripts 170

Danchev, Soviet newsreader 243

Dar-ul Aman Palace 34

Dari language 13, 106, 126, 151, 154

Daud Mohamed (1909–78), Afghan ruler 17, 28, 30–33, 39–40, 43

Appointed prime minister, 1953 16

Deposes Zahir Shah 31

Ousted by Zahir Shah 16

Killed in coup 37, 41

Quarrels with Brezhnev over Western advisers 33

Dedovshchina 171–3, 263

Defections to mujahedin 257–9

GRU defector murdered by comrades in revenge 265

Demobilisation 88, 170, 179, 249–50

Dembel, soldier due for demobilisation 251

Demobilisation rituals 249–52

Desmaisons Pierre, Russian secret agent 21

Didkin Nikolai, Soviet soldier 269

Directorate for Interservices Intelligence (ISI), Pakistani military intelligence 201, 297

Disillusion and Criticism 109–10, 235, 239–41, 243

Disraeli Benjamin (1804–81), British Prime MInister 26

Dolmatov, Soviet officer, commands Operation Raduga 70

DOMA, Democratic Organisation of Afghan Youth 152, 163–4

Dostum Abdul Rashid (1954-), Afghan commander 260, 301–2

DRA (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan) 42, 85, 103, 137, 268

Drozdov General Yuri, KGB officer 90, 93–4, 98, 101

Dubnov Arkadi, Russian journalist 304

Dubs Adolph, US ambassador, assassinated 54

Dubynin General V, 40th Army commander 1986–7 124

Dukhovchenko, leads rising in Badaber 266

Dulepov Vadim, bard 312

Dupree Louis, scholar 17

Durand Line, artificial border between Afghanistan and Pakistan 13, 28

Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan 116, 304–6

Dyshev Andrei, author 158

Educational reforms 16

Eisenhower President, visits Kabul 30

Ekbal Lieutenant, one of Taraki’s murderers 72–3

eksperimentalka, experimental dress uniform 251

Ermacora Felix, UN human rights representative 231

Faisabad, Afghan town 166, 176–9, 188, 194–5, 209, 212, 230, 283

Bombed by Soviets 143

Triples in size 334

Farakh province 165

Faryab province 167

Fedorov Dmitri, sergeant in 860th Regiment 188, 261

Returns to Afghanistan as a tourist 334

Gai David, Soviet journalist 283

Gang of Four 59, 62–3, 92

Gardez, Afghan town 53, 213, 215

Gavrya Alexander, youth adviser 164

Generalov General L, Commander of 40th Army, 1983–5 124

Geneva Agreements 202, 283, 285–6, 290–91, 296

Genghis Khan (?1162–1227), Mongol conqueror 12, 27, 86

Ghaffur Engineer, downs three Soviet helicopters 203

Girardet Edward, American correspondent 144

Glavnoe Razvedyvatelnoe Upravlenie (GRU), Soviet military intelligence organisation 56, 61, 63, 126, 133, 136, 186, 268, 275

Glushak Natasha, killed on returning from wedding 156

Golovin Captain, aircraft crashes 87

Golubev Colonel, commander of KGB detachment 82

Gorbachev Mikhail (1931–), Soviet politician 52, 238, 272, 274, 279–80, 282, 289, 296, 310

And withdrawal 142, 272–4

Attempted coup, August 1991 310

Complains about overweening Soviet advisers 276

Criticised by military 309

Determined to solve Afghan problem 272

Meeting with Reagan. December 1987 280

Nightmare that a bloodbath would follow Soviet withdrawal 281

Policies best available? 310

The ‘Gorbachev surge’ 272

Withdraws six regiments—West treats it as a propaganda stunt 277

XXVIIth Congress of Soviet Communist Party, February 1986 274

Gorchakov Alexander, Russian foreign minister (1798–1883) 11, 23

Gorelov General Lev, Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 1975–9 42, 45, 55, 66, 74

Goricheva Tatiana, protests against Afghan war 108

Gorky (Nizhni Novgorod), Russian city 108, 237

Grabarmy, the ‘bandit army’, nickname for 40th Army 189

Grazhdanskaya Oborona, SIberian rock group 320

green zone, cultivated area, ideal for ambushes 131, 133, 163, 206, 231

Greshnov Andrei, Soviet interpreter and journalist 105–6, 154, 232–3, 294–5, 297–8

Grishin Vladimir, officer in Muslim Battalion 115

Gromov General Boris, last commander of 40th Army 1987–9 88, 124, 144, 174, 214, 287, 291–3, 317

Crosses the bridge, 15 February 1989 291

Gromov Maksim, son of general 293

Gromyko Andrei (1909–89), Soviet foreign minister 45–6, 48–9, 52, 62, 69, 74, 77, 81, 95, 270, 279

Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

Remembers decision to invade 80

Gulabzoi Mohamed, Afghan politician, member of ‘Gang of Four’ 31, 40–41, 59, 63, 68, 70, 83, 92, 99

Gumenny Leonid, officer in Zenit 117

Guskov General, plans elimination of Amin 82

Habibia School, Kabul 16

Habibullah Khan (1872–1919), Afghan ruler 15

Haqqani Jalaluddin (1950-), mujahedin commander 214

Haqqani Sirajuddin, mujahedin commander 214

Hazara, Afghan ethnic group 302

Health 121

Cholera 174

Figures for infectious disease 174

Health care in Soviet Central Asia best in the Muslim world 146

Hepatitis 95, 157, 174–5

Military hospitals 176

Near collapse of medical services 173

Hekmatyar Gulbuddin (1947–), mujahedin commander 17, 32, 184, 200–201, 234, 267, 296, 298, 302

Herat Rising 5

Exaggerated accounts 7

Fate of Soviet specialists 45

News arrives in Soviet embassy 44

Herat, Afghan city 29, 50, 165

Falls to Taliban 303

Strategic concern of British 27

Indian Rising (Mutiny) 1857 24

Ingushetia, Russian republic 326

Intelligence 57, 201

American and Soviet intelligence failures 332

British intelligence on Soviets in Afghanistan 111

GRU decide they need better intelligence 126

Methods and problems 134

Russian intelligence in 19th century 21, 23

US intelligence on Soviet intentions 111

Iran 6, 78

Istalif, Afghan village famed for pottery. 25

Ivanov Galina, wife of Valeri 99, 300

Ivanov Valeri, Soviet official 44, 99, 300–301

Izhevsk, Russian town 255

Izmailov Major Vyacheslav, Soviet officer 208–9

Jalalabad, Afghan city 229

Bombed by British 15

Bombed by Soviets 143, 284

Communist attempt to reunite in 40

Falls to Taliban 303

Major battle after 40th Army leaves 296

Panic when helicopters are shot down 203

Jamiat-i-Islami, Afghan resistance party 266

Jandad Major, head of Afghan Presidential Guard 72–3, 91–3, 95–6

Joulwan Peter, British journalist 258

Kabul 11, 13, 34, 38, 55–6, 63, 66, 74, 86, 88, 152, 206, 290, 296, 300

A tourist paradise 34

Bombed by British 15

Capital moved to 14

Centre destroyed by British 25

Curfew 159

Destroyed in civil war 36, 144, 234, 302

Falls to mujahedin 1992 298

Last Soviet troops leave 290

Major anti-Communist demonstration, February 1980 139

Marriages can only be registered there 156

Russians hang on as long as they can 300

Shelled by mujahedin 143

Soviet troops seize key objectives 8

Taliban victory brings kind of order 303

Kabul museum 34

Kabul Radio 105

Broadcasts Karmal’s appeal 16, 66, 103

Kabul University 17, 32, 38, 159

Kabulov Zamir, Russian diplomat

Persuades Taliban to return bodies of Russian helicopter crew, 2008 198

Tries to discover truth about Badaber 269

Kadyr Colonel, Afghan officer 31, 39–40, 42, 53

Kalashakhi, Afghan village 130

Kalashnikov automatic rifle 190, 192, 197, 199, 220

Kaluga, Russian town 181

Kandahar, Afghan town 14, 163, 297–8

Badly damaged in mid-1980s 163

Bombarded by mujahedin 298

Bombed by Soviets 143, 284

Dangerous for foreigners 297

Falls to Taliban 303

Karamagul, Afghan village 210

Karmal Babrak (1929–1996). Afghan Communist president 17, 38–40, 42, 62, 78, 103–4, 139, 148, 165, 223, 271, 276

Complains about atrocity to Brezhnev 229

Favoured by KGB 60

Inadequacies of 241

KGB brings into plan against Amin 60

Russians decide he must go 274

Secretly flown into Bagram 83

Shocked to hear Soviets intend to pull out 272

Systematically purges officers 136

Karpaty, KGB special forces unit 193

Karpenko Alexander, bard and military interpreter 193

Kartsev Lieutenant Alexander 126–7, 130, 180, 183, 238

Karzai Hamid (1957-), President of Afghanistan 139

Kaskad, KGB special forces detachment 134, 193–4

Kaskadery, ‘stuntmen’—KGB special forces officers 134

Katichev Stanislav, senior military adviser in Herat 45

KGB

Finally abandons Kabul 299

Grom special forces detachment 91, 93, 99, 116

KGB frontier post attacked in Tajikistan 306

Long experience in Afghanistan 60

Memorandum proposes action against Amin 59

Zenit special forces detachment 56–7, 68–9, 82, 91, 93–4, 98, 101, 116

KGB advisers 93

Khabarov Captain—Bitterness over futility of war 223

KhAD, Afghan secret intelligence agency 134–5, 137–9, 182–3, 194, 275, 298

Respected by KGB 202

Successfully penetrate mujahedin 139

Khaibar Mir Akbar, party ideologist, murdered 40

Khalbaev Major, commander of Muslim Battalion 56, 63, 90–91, 93

Khalil General, Afghan intelligence chief, arrested as spy 139

Khalq, faction in Afghan Communist Party 31, 38–43, 58, 60, 104, 275

Khanif, Afghan youth organiser 163

Khiva, Central Asian city 18–19, 22, 24

Khoroshavin Alexander, soldier in 860th Regiment 158

Khost. Afghan city 151, 165, 204, 213–15

Falls to mujaheddin 299

Khrushchev Nikita (1894–1971), Soviet politician 30, 33, 78, 113

Khyber Pass 129

Kipling Rudyard (1865–1936) 12, 134, 192, 227

Kirpichenko General, KGB 82, 105

Kirsanov Yuri, KGB officer, bard 193

Kiselev Yevgeni, interpreter, later TV anchorman 83, 153–4, 208

Kissinger Henry (1923–), US Secretary of State 30

kizyaki, dried dung fuel 130

Klimov Sergei, bard 193, 312

Klintsevich, Frants, veteran, politician 317–18, 327–8

Kobalt, Interior Ministry special forces unit 134–5

Kokand, Central Asian city 22

Kolesnik (Kozlov) Colonel, GRU staff officer 63, 90–94, 96, 102

Komissarov Nikolai, Komsomol youth organiser 166

Komsomol, Soviet Young Communist League 150, 152–3, 162, 165, 244, 259, 316

Komsomolskaya Pravda, newspaper 155, 189, 239, 243, 315

Konovalov Captain Yevgeni, officer in 860th Regiment 180, 300–301

Koshelev Vladimir, bard 312

Kosogovski General, Chief Interior Ministry adviser 74, 228

Kostenko General, adviser to Afghan Chief of Staff 100–101

Kosygin Aleksei (1904–80), Soviet prime minister 46–7, 49–52, 104

Tells Afghans Soviets won’t send troops 7

Kotenov Alexander, sets up veterans’ organisation 317

Kotlyarovskoe Cemetery, Moscow 317

Kovalev. Anatoli, Soviet deputy foreign minister 278

Kozyrev, Andrei, Russian foreign minister, visits Pakistan 258

Kravchenko Colonel, court-martialled for shooting prisoners 229

Kretenin Captain, killed in ambush 209

Krivenko Vitali, Soviet soldier 1, 171–2, 230, 250, 252–3, 320

Kryuchkov Vladimir(1924–2007), Chairman of KGB 1988–91 81, 90, 95, 116, 272, 282, 287, 289

Discusses Islam with Taraki 42

Discusses plan for coup against Gorbachev 311

Explains background to invasion to Congress, 1989 80

Favours Najibullah 275

Persuades Karmal to resign 274

Kulabe, town in Tajikistan 305

Kulazhenko Gena, youth worker, murdered 165

Kunduz, Afghan city 87, 194, 258

Kurgan-Tobe, town in Tajikistan 305

Kurilov Valeri, Soviet officer helps rescue ‘Gang of Four’ 69

Kushka, Soviet city, formerly Pandjeh 162, 283

A good source of vodka 162

Kutepov Yuri, KGB security adviser to Amin’s guard 93

Kutsenko General Viktor, bard 138, 312

Kuzmina Tatiana, Soviet nurse 156

Kuzminskoe Cemetery 213

Kuznechkov Colonel, military doctor killed in storming of Amin’s palace 95, 98–9

Kuznetsov Andrei, soldier

Returns to Afghanistan as a tourist 334

kyariz, well 131

Lagoshin General, last Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 301

Lakhovich Igor, last solider to be killed 290

Lapis lazuli mines, source of income for Masud 216, 287

Latif Dr Lutfullah, imprisoned in Pul-i Charkhi 104, 106

Lee Enfield, effective but old-fashioned British rifle 202

Levchishin Sergei, participant in Badaber rising 269

lifchiki, ‘brassieres’, home-made ammunition pouches 198

Lilya, Soviet typist 156

Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan 84, 194, 267

Logar, Afghan province 162, 233

Long range bombers 7, 123, 143, 202, 216, 219, 223, 272, 284, 289

Lunin Alexander, chief adviser to Polytechnic rector 148

Lyakhovski Alexander (1946–2009), Soviet general 37, 242

Criticism of 40th Army 144

Draws up proposals for Masud 287

Helps draw up plans for assault on White House 311

Lytton Lord (1803–91), Viceroy of India 27

Magometov General, Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 74, 83–4, 90–92, 96

Magradze, Soviet expert in Herat 44

Maiorov General Alexander, Chief Soviet Military Adviser in Afghanistan 229, 240

Maiwand, scene of British defeat, 1880 25

Malachuskaya Natalya, protests against Afghan war 108

Maladani Sher Ahmad, mujahedin commander 6

Prefers Russians to Americans 335

malishi, militia detachments 165

Maltseva Lena, enthusiastic volunteer 155

Margoeva Galina, wife of Afghan engineer 159

Masud Ahmad Shah (1953–2001), mujahedin field commander 139, 185, 201, 218, 223, 258, 285–7, 290, 295–6

Assassination, 9 September 2001 304

Birthplace and early career 184

Buried in Pandsher Valley 305

Commands 20,000 men, with tanks and artillery, 1991 299

Drives on Kabul 302

Educated at Kabul University 17, 32

Helps find Soviet soldiers missing in action 258

His forces commit atrocities in Kabul 234

Military skills admired by Russians 184

Moscow decides to deal with him once and for all, 1984 219

Negotiates ceasefire with Russians 185

Pushed back from Kabul 303

Receives little aid from Pakistanis 201

Remains a problem for Russians and Kabul government 285

Russians build links after withdrawal 303

Russians unable to inflict decisive defeat 216

Uses ceasefire to rebuild forces 219

Matlock Jack, US diplomat 280–81

Matrosskaya Tishina, Moscow prison 95

Mazar-i Sharif, Afghan city 29, 86, 162, 260, 302–3

Mazduryar Shirjan, Afghan politician 40, 59, 68

Mi-24, ‘Crocodile’, Soviet armoured helicopter 197–8

Mi-8, ‘Bee’. Soviet helicopter 198

microrayon, Soviet-built suburb in Kabul 105, 153, 160

Mikhanov B N, chief expert at irrigation project 148

Mikheeva Ludmila, nurse 158

Mine warfare 131–2, 184, 211, 223

Alleged use of mines disguised as toys 234

Devastating effect on soldiers’ morale 132

Mironov, Colonel Valeri 88

Missing in action 257

Mohammed Hamid, mujahedin prisoner 232

Moiseev, General Mikhail, Chief of General Staff 310, 317

Morozov Captain Igor 166

Morozov Igor, KGB special forces officer and bard 194, 247

Leaves Afghanistan 195

Resigns commission 312

Morozov Sergei, sergeant 88, 172, 218, 223

Afghanistan the best years of his life 195

Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies 109

Mothers 263

Among first effective civil rights organisations 263

Gorbachev reads their letters to the Politburo 273

Letters to authorities 243

Mozhayev, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 61

Mujahedin, Afghan guerilla fighters 135, 182–3, 223, 229, 258–9, 296

Attacks inside Kabul 159

Control old city of Herat 165

Destroy major arms dump in Kabul 202

Fail to achieve coherence 333

Hijack Soviet aid 148

Impose fines 165

Intelligence successes 136, 139, 208

Join Afghan army 298

Major supply base explodes in Pakistan 202

Morale high after Russians depart 296

Raids into Soviet Central Asia 78, 142

Refuse to accept Geneva Agreements 281

Rule villages by night 224

Sell Stingers to Iran 205

Seven parties based in Pakistan 200

Successes 201

Successful air defences 203

Supplied from Pakistan 131, 285

Tactics 128–9, 132, 141, 200

Muratkhanian Yuri, director of ‘Afsotr’ 300–301

Muratov Aleksei & Marina, Soviet advisers 161

Music and poetry 192

Muslim battalion 63, 82, 90–94, 97, 99, 115, 117

Musulmanin, film 260

Nadir Shah Mohamed (1883–1933), Afghan ruler 16, 86

Najibullah Mohamed (1947–96), last Communist president 52, 276, 285, 288

Asks for Soviet troops to remain 287

Butchered by Taliban 303

Character sketch by GRU 275

Describes typical meeting with Soviet advisers 148

Exiled to Tehran, 1979 53

Exploits differences within Soviet government 277

Loses senior advocates in Soviet government 299

Popular after his death 335

Publicly blames Soviets for invasion 299

Releases Amin’s womenfolk 104

Replaces Babrak Karmal 143, 275

Requests Soviet military support 296

Seeks asylum with UN 301

Tells military advisers to leave 301

Worried about divergence of interests with Soviets 285

Writes bitterly to Shevardnadze 299

Nargez, Afghan wife of Andrei Olenin 260

National Reconciliation, policy of Najibullah government 53, 143, 241, 275–6, 279, 299

Nekrasov Vyacheslav, youth adviser 166–8, 171, 285

Nikiforov Sergei, soldier 172, 254

Novoe Vremya, newspaper 304

nursiki, rocket nose cones 295

Oerlikon, Swiss anti-aircraft gun 203

Ogarkov General Nikolai, Soviet Chief of General Staff 1977–84 48, 55, 74–5, 77, 80, 229

Ogonek, Soviet magazine 241

Okhrimiuk Yevgeni, adviser kidnapped and murdered 160

Okudzhava Bulat, popular Soviet singer 192

Olenin Aleksei, Russian convert to Islam 259–60

Olney Warren, Union Army 1, 180

Olympic boycott 113

Operation Magistral 214–15, 326

Operation Raduga (Rainbow) 69

Operation Typhoon 143, 288–90

Operational Group of the Ministry of Defence 84–5, 88, 141, 185, 243

Orenburg, Russian city 20–23

Orgyadro, local government cadre 222

Ostrovenko Yevgeni, Russian ambassador, Kabul 1992 301–2

Otradnoe, Russian village 260

Oxus River see Amu Darya

Paghman, Afghan town 34

Pakistan 232, 281, 296

Paktia, Afghan province 53, 183

Pandjeh oasis, sparks Anglo-Russian crisis 27

Pandsher Valley

Civilian population returns 187

Description 216

Soviet operations in 142, 215, 217

Lion of Pandsher 184

Panjshiri, Afghan Communist politician 95

Parcham, faction in Afghan Communist party 31, 38, 40, 42–3, 53, 60, 275

Partition of India, 1947 24

parvanistka, bazaar in Kabul 160

Pashanin, Soviet soldier captured by mujahedin 211–12

Pastukhov Boris, Soviet ambassador, Kabul 1989–91 304

Paul I, Russian Tsar 19

Pavlovski General Ivan, leads mission to Afghanistan, 1979 55

Payman S, Afghan Interior Minister 101

Peck Rory, British journalist 258

People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan 17, 30, 37

Perovski General Vasili, governor of Orenburg 1833–42 21–2

Pershing II missiles 47, 78

Peshawar—Afghan city annexed by Sikhs in 1834 24

Peter the Great—sends expedition to Khiva 18

Petrovski General Vasili, abortive campaign against Khiva 1839 22

Petrushenko Colonel Nikolai, critic of Gorbachev 309

Pipeline 207

Pitirim Metropolitan, critic of Gorbachev 317

Plassey, British victory 1757 19

Plastun Vladimir, expert on Afghanistan, criticises war 245

Poklonnaya Gora war memorial 324, 326

Pol Pot, Cambodian despot 44

Politburo (Afghan) 40

Politburo (Soviet) 47, 50, 52

Abandons attempt to build socialism in Afghanistan 278

Committee on Afghanistan 60, 272

Considers Geneva negotiations 281

Decides on invasion 77

Discusses Herat Rising 7, 45

Discusses withdrawal 270, 277, 279

Pleas to spare Taraki ignored 69

Preliminary decisions to send troops 76

Rejects Najibullah’s call for an air strike 296

Tries to keep war secret 235

Ponomarev, head of Communist Party International Department 52, 74, 171, 173, 181, 199, 211

Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

Potemkin Prince Grigori (1739–91), Catherine the Great’s adviser and lover 19

PPZh, ‘field service wife’ 158

praporshchik (warrant officer) 121, 155, 206, 210, 242, 255–7

Pravda newspaper 155, 189, 239, 243, 293, 315

Prikaz, Demobilisation order 250

Primakov Yevgeni (1929–), Russian politician 29, 303

Prokhanov Alexander, Soviet writer 129, 231

Propaganda

Civilian casualty figures often exaggerated 331

Soviet propaganda 242–3

West exploits fate of Soviet deserters 259

Western propaganda 112, 234, 259, 332

PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 319 see also Afghan syndrome

Public attitudes to the war

More information available under Gorbachev 245

Pul-i Charkhi prison 39–40, 44, 67, 76, 104, 227, 275

Pul-i Khumri logistics base 205

Pushtu language 13, 101, 151, 153

Pushtun ethnic group 13–14, 201, 276

Pushtunistan 28

Putin Vladimir (1952–), Russian President 312, 318, 324

Warns President Bush of consequences of Masud’s assassination 304

Puzanov Alexander, Soviet ambassador, Kabul 43, 48, 55, 65, 69, 71, 75

Rabbani Buhanuddin, (1940–), leader of mujahedin party 17, 32, 184, 200–201, 266–7, 279, 286, 330

Claims war caused Soviet collapse 330

Negotiates with Badaber insurgents 267

Visits Moscow 268

Rafi Mohamed, Afghan Chief of Staff 40, 42, 53

Rakhmonov Feliks, Soviet officer of Tajik origin 233

Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), Sikh ruler 24

Ratebzad Anakhita (1930–), Afghan Communist politician 42, 53, 152

razvedchik, intelligence officer or scout 210–11, 220

Reagan Ronald (1911–2004), US President 114, 272, 280, 296

Refugees 45, 135, 186, 231–2, 237, 290

Reshetnikov Professor Mikhail, expert on PTSD 322–3

Rodionov General I, Commander 40th Army 1985–6 124, 309

Rokossovski Marshal K, Soviet commander in World War II 158

Romanov Major, commander of Grom 91, 93

Rozenbaum Alexander, popular singer 192, 253

Rozenbaum Alexander, young journalist 292

Rutskoi Colonel Alexander 230, 311, 317

Ruzi Lieutenant, one of Taraki’s murderers 72–3, 93

Ryabchenko General, commander of 108th Airborne Division 100–101

Rykova Svetlana, wangles a job in Shindand 156

Ryurikov Dmitri, diplomat 65–6, 107

Saimetdinov Dodikhudo, interpreter 167

Sakharov Andrei (1921–89), nuclear physicist and dissident 108, 237

Salang tunnel 88, 205–6

Samin, Russian PoW 261

Sandirescu, praporshchik in 860th Regiment 210–11

Sapper 132

Sarwari Asadullah, member of ‘Gang of Four’ 59, 62, 64–5, 68, 83, 92

Satarov Captain, 96

Sayyaf Abdul Rasul (1946–.), mujahedin commander 17

Sberbank, Soviet savings bank 188

Sebrov General, unimpressed with official speeches 291

Semchenko Grisha, youth adviser 163

Semenov Major, commander of Zenit 93

Sergeev Major, captures a Stinger 204, 304

Severny Komsomolets, newspaper 292

Shafi, Afghan agent working for Russians 127

Shah Wali, Amin’s foreign minister 71

Shchedrov, Pravda correspondent 239

Shebarshin Leonid, KGB general 222

Returns to Herat 333

Shershnev Colonel Leonid, critic of war 239–41, 243

Shevardnadze Eduard (1927–), Soviet foreign minister 81, 276–7, 280, 287–9, 309

Proposes leaving Soviet troops to support Najibullah after withdrawal 282

Reports on unpopularity of Soviets 278

Signs Geneva Agreements with heavy heart 282

Tells Shultz Soviets will soon leave 280

Shilka, mobile anti-aircraft gun 92, 97

Shindand, Afghan town 54, 193, 233, 252, 303

Shiryaev Valeri, military interpreter 151, 158, 231

Shkidchenko General, killed on operations 151

Shkirando Alexander, poisoned in Amin’s palace 96

Shomali Plain, ‘green zone’ north of Kabul 206, 217

Shujah Shah (1785–1842), Afghan ruler 14–15

Shultz George (1920–), US Secretary of State 280

shuravi, Afghan word for Soviet 298

Sidorov Colonel Valeri, commander of 860th Regiment 209, 211–13

Skobelev General Mikhail (1843–82), conqueror of Central Asia 24

Slonim Masha, British journalist, rescues drug addicts 191

Smolina Alla, Soviet official 203, 257, 264–5

Snegirev Vladimir, Soviet journalist 149, 189, 238, 258, 333

Snesarev General Andrei (1865–1937), expert on Afghanistan 9, 28

Sneyerov Kostya, soldier in 860th Regiment 326

Sokolov Marshal Sergei, First Deputy Minister of Defence, 84, 88, 141, 186, 222–3, 243, 250

Sotskov General, Chief Military Adviser 1988–9 290

Soviet Union

Contribution of war to Soviet collapse 330

Incoherence of policy making 61

Ministry of Defence prepares for possible invasion 56

Soviet withdrawal

First phase 1988 282

Second phase, winter 1988–9 284

Soviets leave Jalalabad 283

Spin Boldak, Afghan town 303

St Petersburg Faculty of Oriental Languages 22

Stepanov Yuri, Russian convert to Islam 260

Stinger, American anti-aircraft missile 203–5

Sufi Puainda Mokhmad, mujahedin leader 259–60

Sukhoparov Alexander, adviser to Afghan Communist party 106

Suslov Mikhail (1902–82), Soviet Politburo member 77, 80, 237

Tabeev Fikryat, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 61, 75, 87, 105, 276

Taj Bek Palace 89–91, 93, 102, 115, 215

Tajikistan 13, 78, 87, 153, 305–6

Taliban, Islamist movement in Afghanistan 32, 36, 123, 234, 260, 303–4

Brings civil war to an end 302

Operates in Central Asia 78

Talybov Mikhail, KGB agent posing as Amin’s cook 95

Tamberlane (1336–1405), conqueror 12

Tanai Shah Navaz, Afghan officer, later defence minister 45

Joint commander of Operation Magistral 214

Taraki Nur Mohamed (1917–79), Afghan Communist president 7, 17, 39–40, 42, 50–54, 59, 62–9, 73, 81, 93, 95, 112

Arrested by Daud 40

Becomes Head of State 42

Flies to Havana 62

Intrigues against Amin 58

Last meeting with Brezhnev 62

Leader of Khalq faction 38

Murdered 72

Repeats requests for Soviet troops 55

Summoned to Moscow March 1979 50

Tarun Major, Afghan officer 62, 64, 66–7

Tashkurgan, Afghan town, last HQ of 40th Army 291

Ter-Grigoriants General 184

Thatcher Margaret (1925–), British prime minister 113

Tkach General B, commander of 40th Army, 1980–82 124

Tkachev Colonel Anatoli, GRU, negotiates ceasefire with Masud 185–6

Tsagolov Colonel Kim, critic of Soviet policy in Afghanistan 241

Tsarandoi, Afghan government gendarmerie 90, 135, 137

Tsevma Gennadi, Russian convert to Islam 258

Tukharinov General Yu, first commander of 40th Army, 1979–80 84, 87, 124, 140

Ural mountains, Russia 255

US policy aims 114

Ustinov Dmitri (1908–94), Soviet defence minister 51–2, 54–5, 69, 74–5, 79, 125, 223, 229, 270

Ceases to be a hawk 271

Discusses Herat rising 46, 48–49

Issues orders for invasion 77, 85–86,

Member of Committee on Afghanistan 60

Sends paratroopers to defend Bagram 57

Uzbekistan 13, 78, 153, 302

Vadud Captain, member of Taraki’s guard 72–3

Varennikov Valentin (1929–2009), Soviet general 203, 227, 275, 285, 289, 310–11, 317

Arrested for role in coup 312

Attends Politburo meeting, May 1987 279

Furious at Shevardnadze’s betrayal of military 288

Involved in coup against Gorbachev 310

Leads delegation to Kabul after withdrawal 296

Negotiates ceasefire with Masud 285

Pays respects at Masud’s grave 305

Signs directive on press coverage of war 236

Sorts out attack on Zhawar 214

Strongly criticises Gorbachev in his memoirs 310

Visits zastava 141

Vaskov Igor, Soviet soldier 269

Veselkov General, Soviet Interior Ministry adviser in Kabul 74

Veterans (Afgantsy) 158, 173, 191–3, 215, 245, 249, 257

Defend White House 311

Discover the internet 325

Figures for 329

Memory plays tricks 115

Problems of 313–27

Return to Afghanistan as tourists 334

Veterans Organisations

Administration for Afghan Questions 316

Boevoe Bratstvo 317, 326

Presidential Committee for Soldier-Internationalist Affairs 257

Russian Fund for Invalids of the War in Afghanistan (RFIVA) 317

Chairman Mikhail Likhodei Assassinated 317

Chairman Sergei Trakhirov Assassinated 317

Russian Union of Veterans of Afghanistan (RSFA) 317

First chairman Lyagin Yevgeni 317

Union of Veterans of Afghanistan (SVA) 316

Veterans Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States 268

Vietnam 111, 114, 274, 289, 315, 333

Charlie Wilson seeks revenge for 114

Distracts American attention from Afghanistan 30

Inadequate US tactics in 127

Massacre at My Lai, 1968 225

Parallel with Afghanistan 114, 245, 331

US helicopter losses in 205

Viktor, Soviet deserter 264–5

Vilnius, massacre in January 1991 310

Vitkevich, see Witkiewicz 21

Vlasov General, killed on operations 151

Voenkomat, recruiting office 155

Voentorg, military shop 154, 188

Volkogonov General Dmitri (1928–96) 241

Voronezhskaya Gazeta, newspaper 321

Vorontsov Yuli, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 61, 286, 290

Vostrotin Valeri, Soviet officer, Hero of the Soviet Union 91, 116, 215, 326

Vygovski Yuri, officer in 860th Regiment 326

Vysotski Vladimir, popular Soviet bard 192

Wahid Colonel, KhAD commander 183

Wajiha, popular singer 36

Wakil Abdul, Afghan Communist politician 53, 100–101

Wali Shah, Amin’s foreign minister 71

Wardak Amin, mujahedin commander 144

Watanjar Muhammed Aslam, Afghan officer and politician 31, 40–42, 59, 63, 67–8, 83, 92, 99

Wellington, Duke of (1789–1852) 225

Western highway 208

Western TV 207, 284

Wilson Charlie (1933–2010), American politician 114, 215

Witkiewicz Jan (1808–39), Russian secret agent 21

Women 123, 154–8, 229

Attacks on Afghan women in 1970s 184

chekistki, dismissive name for 158

Communists promise rights 5, 43

Employment opportunities for Afghan women after 1963 16

Failure of reforms 14, 18

Karimova Gulya, character in novel 158

Require armed escort in Jalalabad and Kabul 160

Threatened by mujahedin 232

Yakub Colonel, Afghan Chief of Staff 58, 63, 73, 100–101

Yamshchikov Igor, soldier, returns to Afghanistan as tourist 334

Yazov General Dmitri (1927–), Soviet Defence Minister 1987–91 241, 282, 287, 289, 291, 293

Yegorychev Nikolai, Soviet ambassador in Kabul 1988 61

Yeltsin Boris (1931–2007), Russian politician 258, 303, 306, 311–12

Abandons Najibullah 299

Gives privileges to veterans’ organisations 317

Yepishev General Aleksei (1908–85) 55

Yermakov General V, commander of 40th Army, 1982–3 124

Yermolin Anatoli, Soviet officer 126

Yuriev Alexander, youth adviser 163

Yusuf Brigadier Mohammed, ISI officer 297

Zabol, Afghan province 135

Zahir Shah Mohamed (1914–2007), Afghan ruler 16, 30, 111, 279

Zakharov Nikolai, youth adviser 107, 152

Zaplatin General Vasili, adviser to Afghan army 74–5

zelenka, ‘green zone’. See Green zone

Zharov Sergei, Russian tour organiser 334

Zhukov Marshal G (1896–1974), Soviet commander in World War II 158

Zia ul-Haq (1924–88), President of Pakistan 271, 279, 296

Zverkovich Alexander, soldier 269