Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War - Bennett Park Raiders

VIGNETTE 6B
THE BATTLE FOR SPINA THANA BASE
based on interviews with Haji Zaman Ghamsharik
I commanded the 200-man Task Force Gulf (See Map 6-8 - Arrow
3). As part of OPERATION ARROW, I launched my attack on the government
base at Spina Thana in coordination with attacks on the
Khairokhel Post to the east and Kaftarkhana Base to the west. Spina
Thana was one of the main military bases providing security for
columns moving along the Kabul-Jalalabad highway. It also
patrolled against guerrilla incursions across the Kabul River into
Laghman Province. A reinforced company supported by tanks,
BMPs, APCs, heavy machine gun and guns garrisoned the base.
They protected the base with mines and other obstacles. The entire
area surrounding the base, except the paved highway running
through the base was heavily mined.
Spina Thana would-be a tough nut to crack. I could assign up to
150 Mujahideen to the assault group, but using such a large force for
the attack carried some risks. I could incur heavy casualties since the
group could not effectively deploy due to the mines. I considered a
night attack, but this was equally difficult because of the mines, particularly
since the enemy habitually mined the exits and entrances to
the base at night. I decided on a day-light attack. I intended to move
part of my force as close to the base as possible under heavy covering
fire. I decided to put my attacking force on the highway outside the
mined area and move on the highway in the attack. This was the only
route guaranteed free of mines.
I constituted a Task Force support group which manned our BM-12
and BM-1 MRL, 82mm recoilless rifles, ZGU-1 and DShK heavy
machine guns and mortars. I positioned it in the terrain folds of Tor
Ghar dominating the enemy base on the low ground between the main
highway and Kabul river.
I had to begin my planned fires earlier than intended when Task
Force Hurricane came under heavy fire from the Spina Thana Base.
The enemy responded resolutely to my fires. The fire exchange went
Haji Zaman Ghamsharik was the commander of Task Force Gulf. At the start of the war,
Ghamsharik controlled Khogiani District. He faked a defection to the DRA and requested
that the DRA provide him trained personnel to run the district. The DRA responded by
sending him 71 communists—who were promptly executed.