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

Chapter 2, Vignette 2 Page 75
the encampment, while the Mujahideen remained behind in hiding
places. One of the things that the Mujahideen had discovered was
when the seven-man security outpost had dinner. One guard was left
on duty while the rest ate their dinner. As dinner was being served,
three Mujahideen crept to the outpost, jumped the guard and disarmed
him. One Mujahideen kept his hand on the mouth of the guard to
prevent him from screaming. Then the rest of the raiding party
swarmed into the outpost. They surprised the rest of the DRA soldiers
and captured them all without firing a shot. A DRA lieutenant was
among the prisoners. The Mujahideen took whatever they could carry
and then left for their base with all their prisoners.
COMMENTARY: Kabul and the surrounding area were heavily guarded.
The Soviet 103rd Airborne Division, the 180th and 181st Motorized
Rifle Regiments of the Soviet 108th Motorized Rifle Division, the DRA
8th Infantry Division, the DRA 37th Commando Brigade and the DRA
15th Tank Brigade were all garrisoned in Kabul. Careful reconnaissance,
strict camouflage discipline and a clever deception plan enabled
the Mujahideen to carry off this raid. Local assistance from the Kochi
was essential to the plan. The selection of a Kochi commander and his
efforts to gain the cooperation of his kinsmen paid off. The Mujahideen
relied on the local populace for cover, food and water, intelligence, shelter
and early warning. The time and effort spent were essential to the
Mujahideen success.
On the other hand, the DRA commander allowed his outpost activities
to become routine. The Mujahideen planned the attack when
security was relaxed and captured the outpost without firing a shot or
alerting neighboring garrisons.