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

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Page 266 The O<strong>the</strong>r Side of <strong>the</strong> Mounta<strong>in</strong>: <strong>Mujahideen</strong> <strong>Tactics</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Soviet</strong>-<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />

CHAPTER COMMENTARY<br />

The <strong>Soviet</strong>/DRA cordon and search usually <strong>in</strong>volved a number of<br />

forces <strong>in</strong> a comb<strong>in</strong>ed arms battle or operation. The <strong>Mujahideen</strong> who<br />

had <strong>the</strong> best success surviv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se did so because <strong>the</strong>ir actions<br />

were centrally coord<strong>in</strong>ated, <strong>the</strong>y had developed cont<strong>in</strong>gency plans to<br />

deal with <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong>y had built redundant field fortifications to<br />

slow <strong>the</strong> <strong>Soviet</strong>/DRA advance and fragment <strong>the</strong>ir efforts. The betterprepared<br />

<strong>Mujahideen</strong> always reta<strong>in</strong>ed a central reserve and were<br />

adept at counterattack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> flanks of <strong>the</strong> attacker. The <strong>Mujahideen</strong><br />

who had <strong>the</strong> most difficulty with cordon and search operations<br />

were usually separate groups who had little or no ties to a central<br />

<strong>Mujahideen</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g authority, had worked out no cont<strong>in</strong>gency<br />

plans and had taken no steps to fortify <strong>the</strong> area.

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