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

VIGNETTE 7
DEFENDING THE SUBURBS OF KANDAHAR
by Sultan Mohammad of Topkhana
The supporters of the HI faction, mostly Shia, were located
primarily in the southwest of Afghanistan. The HI's main base was in
the Khakrez southern mountains. This base was near the HIK base of
Islam Dara. 7 This was about seven hours on foot from Khakrez, which
is some 60 kilometers north of Kandahar. The HI fought in Khakrez,
Girishk, Uruzgan and Kandahar. The HI faction had four units in the
Kandahar area. We had about 300 Mujahideen. Our overall commander
was Ali Yawar who was killed by a mine later in the war. We had
two bases in the Kandahar area—Char Dewal in the Malajat suburbs
south of Kandahar and Char Bagh in the Arghandab River Valley
northwest of Kandahar. I commanded a group at Char Dewal as did
Ghulam Shah and Shah Mohammad. Gul Mohammad commanded at
Char Bagh. We used to harass convoys and block Highway 1 near the
Kandahar prison at Pashtoon Bagh—about a half kilometer from the
Sarpooza ridge. Unlike some other areas in Afghanistan, all the
Mujahideen factions cooperated with each other in the Kandahar
area. Whenever there was any fighting, all the Mujahideen would
move to the area to help out. All large Mujahideen operations were
combined and were coordinated by the Mujahideen Council.
The Malajat area lies to the south of Kandahar. It is a wellirrigated
suburb of the city full of villages, irrigation canals,
orchards, farms and vineyards. The Mujahideen moved freely
throughout this area despite the best efforts of the DRA and the
Soviet forces in the area. 8 Frequently, the DRA and Soviets would
throw a cordon around the Malajat area and try to enter it to destroy
Sultan Mohammad of Topkhana is a member of the minority Shia religious community in
Afghanistan. He belonged to the moderate Harakat-I Islam' (HI) faction founded by
Ayatollah Asef Muhsini in neighboring Iran. He fought from the communist overthrow of the
government until the withdrawal of Soviet forces. [Map sheet 2180].
7 Islam Dara was the Mujahideen name for their base behind Shawadan mountain. The
Soviet 103rd Airborne Division launched an attack on this base in 1985 and this is
described in Vignette 25 of The Bear Went Over the Mountain. The site location in The
Bear Went Over the Mountain is wrong.
8 The Kandahar area was heavily garrisoned by the DRA 2nd Corps Headquarters, the
15th Infantry Division, the 7th Tank Brigade, the 3rd Border Guards Brigade, the 366th
Fighter-Bomber Regiment and the 379th Separate Bomber Squadron. Soviet forces
included the 70th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and a Spetsnatz battalion.