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

Chapter 11, Vignette 7 Page 303
the Mujahideen and their bases. Throughout the war, these efforts
never succeeded. There were always at least 1,000-1,500 Mujahideen
in Malajat from the various factions. These Mujahideen were all
from mobile groups and none were stationed permanently in Malajat.
Mujahideen forces would rotate in and out of the Malajat area and
thus maintained a high state of readiness. The Malajat mujahideen
were well prepared with supply bases and well-fortified bunkers and
fighting positions (Map 11-10 - Malajat).
In the fall of 1984, the enemy threw a wide cordon around the
Malajat occupying their normal southern positions from Zaker Ghar
in the east to Qaitul in the west. Thus they surrounded the Malajat
with Kandahar to the north and Highway 4 to the east and a ridge of
hills to the west. This encompasses a lot of space and the Mujahideen
were still able to maneuver freely within the Malajat area. At 0700
hours, an enemy mechanized column of 30-35 tanks and APCs moved
from Sarpooza while another column of 15-16 tanks and APCs moved
from the 15th Division headquarters past the Governor's house along
the Mahkama road near Poolan toward our defensive position. Our
defensive position stretched some three kilometers from Char Dewal
to Spin Ziarat and we could always see the enemy defenses from here.
We held this position with some 450 Mujahideen from various factions.
There were HIK units from Sarkateb, the Gulagha Son of Haji
Latif's unit and two of our HI groups. The enemy columns were
covered by helicopter gunships who fired at our positions. However,
the enemy was unable to advance because we were well-protected by
our defensive positions. The enemy would not dismount from his
armored vehicles, but deployed his vehicles in a firing line and fired
at us for two or three hours. Even the green trees caught on fire. Our
defensive positions were three meter by two meter pits which held
two-to-three men. They were roofed with heavy wooden beams which
had 1.5 meters of dirt and rock tamped down on top of it. During lulls
in the enemy firing, our men would pop out of the shelters and fire
RPG-7s and recoilless rifles at them. The enemy would promptly
start shooting again.
I said that the Soviets surrounded us, but that isn't completely
true. Throughout the war, the Soviets always left one side unguarded.
At around noon, 100 to 120 Mujahideen reinforcements arrived from
Zalakhan and Walakan, which are south and southeast of Spin Zirat.
These villages were in the sector that the Soviets left unguarded. The
arrival of the reinforcements turned the tide and eventually prompted
the Soviets to withdraw about 1800 hours. We destroyed three armored