The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen ... - Tribal Analysis Center

VIGNETTE 6
DESTRUCTION OF THE BAGH-E MUMTAZ BRIGADE
by Doctor Mohammad Wakil
In 1988, the DRA deployed a security ,brigade north of Kabul to
secure the route for the withdrawal of the Soviet 40th Army. It was
stationed on the Kabul-Charikar highway near the road junction with
the road leading to Shakardara—the district headquarters of
Shakardara District. The brigade was stationed in the Mumtaz
orchard, so it was called the Bagh-e Mumtaz Brigades (Map 4-5 -
Shakardara). My brother, the late Commander Wasil, was the overall
commander of the many factions involved in this battle. He worked
out the plan during several commanders councils at thevarious faction
bases. At 0800 hours on 21 June 1988, we would begin our attack on
the brigade. The first phase would be the isolation and artillery preparation
phase. Mujahideen would block the road from the north and
south to isolate the garrison and begin a seven-day artillery preparation
with a BM-12, Saqar MRL, 122mm howitzer, 82mm mortars and
82mm recoilless rifles. The artillery preparation would be fired from
four directions. The second phase would be the ground offensive. One
hundred Mujahideen would attack on each of four axes. The attack
from the south would be led by my brother, Commander Wasil, on the
southern axis Sehab-e Quli Village—Morad Beg town. Commander Taj
Mohammad would lead the attack on the southwest axis from Karez-e
Mir Village. Commander Naser would lead the attack on the western
axis while Commander Anwar would lead the attack on the eastern
axis. Mujahideen armaments included one Saqar, one BM12, one
122mm howitzer, six 82mm mortars, eight 82mm recoilless rifles and
approximately 40 RPG-7s. We also had some ZSU-23-2 antiaircraft
guns and some Stinger antiaircraft missiles.
The attack started on time, but the garrison did not last for the seven
days. The brigade's morale broke and we overran it by 1400 hours on the
first day. The brigade's tanks broke out. The brigade commander and
some of his deputies were on board the tanks. We tried to stop them with
RPG fire, but they escaped to Kabul. I do not know the total Mujahideen
casualties, but I do know of four KIA, including my brother. I also know
Doctor Mohammad Wakil is from Shakardara District north of Kabul. He graduated from
high school before the war. He joined the resistance and received medical training in
Pakistan. [Map sheet 2886., vic grid 0737].
5 Bagh-e means orchard. This was probably the 520th Brigade.