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

VIGNETTE 2
DEHRAWUD OFFENSIVE
In the spring and summer of 1984, the Soviet forces stepped up
their attacks on Mujahideen hideouts and mobile bases in the three
adjoining provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan. The Soviets
also intensified their efforts to intercept Mujahideen supply convoys
coming through the mountains from Pakistan. In the fall, a number of
major Mujahideen commanders in these provinces decided to set up a
regional supply base in the Uruzgan Mountains that could support
Mujahideen units deployed in the area. Dehrawud District, located in
Uruzgan Province, seemed to be a suitable place for the supply base.
It is an oasis in the mountains in the upper Helmand Valley. It is easy
to defend and it is conveniently located between the three provinces
(Map 7-2 - Dehrawud).
The Dehrawud District capital of Dehrawud was garrisoned by
some 500 government militia who manned security outposts around
the town. They were supplied by air since the town was blockaded by
the local Mujahideen who controlled all the roads leading into the
town. The Mujahideen council decided to attack the government
enclave, dislodge the militia and consolidate control over the entire
valley. To do this, however, they first had to negotiate a truce between
rival groups in the region to ensure their full cooperation during the
upcoming operation. Two months before the action, Mujahideen delegations
from Kandahar and Helmand mediated such a truce.
In October, Mujahideen forces from Kandahar under Mulla
Malang, Faizullah and other leaders joined a contingent of Helmand
Mujahideen commanded by the late Nasim Akhund Zada, the leading
resistance figure in Helmand Province. Haji Assadullah and some
Mujahideen fighters from Uruzgan and Baghran areas joined the
attacking force. This force eventually numbered over 1,000 men. The
Mujahideen force moved along different approaches to Dehrawud and
surrounded the government positions in the area. A 300-man detachment
sealed off the main approach to Dehrawud from the south along
the Helmand River. Another 100-man detachment deployed to the
southeast to cover the Kotal-e Murcha (the Murcha pass) and mine its
Sources for this vignette include Commander Mulla Malang, Akhund Zada Qasem, several
Mujahideen from Uruzgan, Kandahar and Helmand Provinces and Mr. Jalali's personal
notes and papers.