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

VIGNETTE 4
DEFENDING AGAINST A CORDON AND SEARCH OPERATION IN
PARWAN
by Commander Haji Abdul Qader
In late January 1984, Soviet forces launched a multi-divisional 8
cordon and search operation in Parwan and Kapisa Provinces. The
aim of the operation was to destroy the Mujahideen forces across
a wide area stretching from the Charikar-Salang highway in the
west, to Mahmoud-e Raqi in the east and Bagram in the south
(Map 10-4 - Parwan). This area is covered with villages and cut by
irrigation canals to the orchards, vineyards and farms of this fertile
area. There were dozens of Mujahideen bases in this area that were
affiliated with major resistance factions. Most of the Mujahideen
were not in their bases but split up into hundreds of small units
living in the villages during the winter.
On 24 January columns of Soviet and DRA tank and motorized
rifle forces moved from Kabul, Bagram, Jabal-e Seraj and
Gulbahar (at the mouth of the Punjsher Valley) to establish a wide
cordon around the green zone on both sides of the Panjsher River.
The cordon and sweep operation was backed with extensive air
support. The Soviets and DRA hoped to trap the thousands of
Mujahideen in this area and to destroy their base camps. The
Mujahideen reinforced their defenses along the major roads in
the area. The Mujahideen expected enemy advances along these
axes of advance and decided to block them to gain time to break
out from encirclement.
During the first day, the Soviet/DRA forces deployed and established
blocking positions reinforced by tanks, APCs and artillery. At
dawn on 25 January, they mounted attacks from several points,
including Charikar, Jabal-e Seraj, Gulbahar, Mahmoud-e Raqi, Qalae
Naw and Bagram.
Haji Abdul Qader was a commander in the Bagram area. The authors have consulted
other documents to add detail to his account. A former teacher, Abdul Qader hails from the
Sayghani village just six kilometers northeast of the Bagram air base. His group was initially
affiliated with the HIK faction. He later joined Sayyaf's IUA faction. [Map sheets 2886
and 2887].
8
Most probably the Soviet 103rd Airborne Division and the 108th Motorized Rifle Division
and the DRA 8th Infanfantry Division and 37th Commando Brigade.