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

AN UNSUCCESSFUL DEFENSE
Chapter 11, Vignette 5 Page 293
In 1985 we had disputes over leadership and distribution of spoils
and the Mujahideen split into tribal units and moved into the various
canyons. Haji Abdul Kheleq and his Mujahideen from the Noorzai
tribe moved to the Shaykh Razi Baba Canyon. Haji Ghulan Rasul
Shiwani Rasul Akhundzada and the Mujahideen from the Alizai and
Barakzai tribes moved to the Kale-e Amani Canyon. I went with this
group. Mawlawi Mohammad Shah and his Mujahideen from the
Achakzai tribe stayed in the Kale-e Kaneske Canyon.
After the groups had moved to the different canyons, the Soviets
returned. The Soviets concentrated on Mohammad Shah and his
Mujahideen in the Kal-e Kaneske Canyon. He had six DShK
machine guns, one ZGU-1 machine gun, three 82mm recoilless
rifles, 25 RPG-7s and some medium machine guns. Soviet troop
columns with up to 200 tanks and APCs moved from Shindand to
Farah and surrounded the area. 5 Soviet aircraft flew from Shindand
airbase and bombed the base from high and low altitudes. Soviet
artillery moved into position and hammered his positions for several
hours with heavy fire (Map 11-8 - Kaneske 3). The Soviets spent the
first day with artillery and air preparations. On the second day, they
launched an attack against the canyon with infantry supported by
tanks. Mohammad Shah's force repulsed the attack. On the third
day, the Soviets attacked the canyon mouth again, but they also
snuck a force up the Jar-e Ab Canyon and then landed air assault
forces on the mountain top. These forces crossed over into the Kal-e
Kaneske Canyon and took Mohammad Shah's force from the rear.
Mohammad Shah's son was killed while firing his ZGU-1.
Mohammad Shah's force was pinned between the two Soviet forces as
night fell. Mohammad Shah gathered his force and said "Either we
stand and die here to the last man or we take a risk and charge the
attackers and try to break out. We should break out as a group. If
they see us, we will have enough firepower to fight them. If they
don't see us, we will all leave together." All his Mujahideen agreed.
Some 70 Mujahideen slipped out between the Soviet forces, up the
canyon and into the mountain. Only a few old men remained. The
next day, the Soviets continued to pound the canyon with air and
5 Troops were from the Soviet 5th Motorized Rifle Division. If the number of tanks and
APCs is correct, this was a regiment (probably the 371st Motorized Rifle Regiment) reinforced
with air assault forces.