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

VIGNETTE 2
AMBUSHED AT FARZA
by Commander Sofi Lal Gul
In April 1984, the regional Mujahideen called for a shura (local
council) to discuss local issues and decide on common approaches. Sofi
Rasul and myself were to attend as the local Mujahideen commanders
from Farza. The meeting would be held five kilometers to our north in
Estalif. We were accompanied by 28 Mujahideen armed with AK47s
and two RPG-7s. Someone must have been working for DRA intelligence
in our area, since the DRA knew about our plans and set an
ambush on the trail near Farza.
We left Farza while it was still dark so that the enemy would not
see us. Our route took us between two hills near a DRA air defense
battery position (Map 12-2 - Farza). We were about half way to Estalif
at a point which we call Wotaq, when the enemy opened fire on us from
the surrounding hills. A DRA force had set up the ambush during the
night. There is no doubt that they knew the exact route we would take.
We went to ground in the kill zone and tried to find good fighting positions.
The firing was fierce, we were totally surprised and we did not
know the enemy strength and exact positions. Our return fire was
ineffective and uncontrolled.
As dawn broke, our situation improved slightly, but we were still in
shock. I had no command or control over my men and they acted as
individuals trying to break contact and leave the kill zone. Enemy fire
was still heavy. During a lull in the fighting, I managed to find a few
Mujahideen sheltering in a ditch. I led them to the safety of the mountains
in the west. Twelve Mujahideen eventually reached the safety of
the terrain folds and mountain valleys in the west. Two others and
myself were wounded. We remained hidden in the valley until we saw
the ambush force leave that afternoon. Then we returned to the
ambush site where we discovered that 18 of our comrades were killed.
Some of their bodies were mutilated by the enemy and most had their
clothing shredded. Late that afternoon, we moved their bodies for
burial. I do not know if there were any enemy casualties, but during
Commander Sofi Lal Gul is from Farza village of Mir Bacha Kot District. This is about
25 kilometers north of Kabul. He was affiliated with Mojaddedi's Afghanistan National
Liberation Front of Afghanistan (ANLF) during the war with the Soviets. Commander Sofi
Lal Gul concentrated his efforts on the Kabul-Charikar highway. [Map sheet 2886, vic
grid 0350].