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

Chapter 11, Vignette 2 Page 275
higher than Surkhab village and it is easier to climb Spin Ghar
mountain from the Tobagi plain than from the Surkhab Valley. I
was climbing the mountain with two others carrying ammunition. I
intended to climb over the mountain to the north face. As we
reached halfway up the ridge, enemy aircraft flew over the area. The
enemy usually marked their infantry positions for the aircraft by
firing smoke or signal rockets. We saw rockets being fired on the
other side of the mountain. This meant that enemy infantry were on
the other side of the mountain and were trying to encircle the
Mujahideen bases by a flanking movement from the Tobagi plain. I
had all our spare ammunition with me and at that time ammunition
was as precious to me as my faith. We climbed back down the mountain
and saw that the other Mujahideen were retreating into their
bases. The people of Surkhab came to the Mujahideen and demanded
that we move our baes lest Surkhab be invaded everyday. The
Mullas had refused to move the bases earlier, but now they were
panicked and hiding in caves. The people taunted them with "You
told us this was Jihad, but now you are trying to flee." Some of the
Mullas came out, but everyone was still panicked. I had all of this
ammunition and no one to help me move it. I thought of abandoning
the ammunition and saving my skin, but then I thought how vital
the ammunition was and what would happen if I was later called to
account for my actions.
Finally, a group of us decided to make a suicidal last stand and
called for volunteers. Lieutenant Sharab, a DRA deserter, volunteered.
We had suspected him earlier, but he proved himself now.
Lieutenant Sharab said, "They are not used to mountains. It will take
them a long time to climb them and they are afraid of these mountains.
If you fire at them from one position, they will stop and return fire for
a long time at that position." We fired mortars at the north slope and
positioned some Mujahideen on the top of Spin Ghar mountain to draw
fire. This was the turning point. All of a sudden, helicopter activity
fell off and firing tapered off in the valley. We thought that it was a
trick to make us believe that the fighting was over so the Mujahideen
would come out of their hideouts and then they would take us from
behind. We did not expect that such a powerful enemy would abandon
an almost certain victory and retire empty-handed. It was late afternoon
when I saw civilians coming from Surkhab. They told us that the
enemy had withdrawn. The enemy evidently did not want to have to
fight to take the mountain. This was not our doing, but the hand of
God. We lost 10 KIA and six WIA in my group. I do not know the casu-