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

VIGNETTE 3
RAID ON BAGRAMI DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS
by Commander Shahabuddin
In July 1983, local units of all seven major factions united to raid
the Bagrami District Headquarters to the southeast of Kabul. (No
Map) We assembled about 250 Mujahideen armed with six 82mm mortars,
nine recoilless rifles, and eight RPG-7s. We assembled at my base
at Yakhdara, made our plans and then spread our forces out in the villages.
We assigned 100 Mujahideen to route security and posted them
prior to moving our main raiding forces to Bagrami and Qal-e
Ahmadkhan. These towns are in the suburbs just outside of Kabul
and are part of the inner security belt of Kabul. The Bagrami 40-man
assault group had eight RPG-7s, three recoilless rifles and two mortars.
They were to attack the district headquarters from three directions.
I led the assault group at Qal-e Ahmadkhan. I had 50 men-10
of which I used for flank protection and 40 for the raid. I also attacked
from three directions. As we approach Qal-e Ahmadkhan, we were
stopped by a small outpost. We overran it. Then we attacked one of
the many security outposts in the village. We overran this outpost
killing 25 and capturing eight DRA soldiers. We also captured 14
Kalashnikovs and a telephone set. The Bagrami assault group could
not get close enough to their target to attack it directly, so they shelled
it instead.
COMNIENTARY: The DRA and Soviets surrounded Kabul with a series
of three security belts composed of outposts, minefields and obstacles.
Their purpose was to deny Mujahideen entry into the city and prevent
Mujahideen shelling attacks. The Mujahideen often attacked these
outposts, but could not hold them. The main benefits of the security
belt system to the Mujahideen were these attacks kept a large numbers
of troops tied up in passive security roles, the outposts provided a
source of weapons and ammunition and these attacks affected the
morale of their opponents.
Commander Shahabuddin is from Shewaki Village south of Kabul. There is no map with
this vignette. [Map sheets 2885 and 2886].