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

Chapter 11, Vignette 8 Page 307
recoilless rifles, and RPGs. We covered the fighting positions with
berry-tree branches which we then covered with earth and packed it
down hard. The bases had covered bunkers to protect our Mujahideen
from artillery fire and air strikes. These bunkers were two-three
meters in width and six to eight meters long and were covered with
timber and a meter-thick layer of well-packed earth which resisted
artillery fire and most air strikes. Whenever the enemy would cordon
off the Malajat area and launch infantry attacks into the green zone,
the Mujahideen would occupy their blocking positions. Most fighting
positions were redundant so that the loss of a fighting position would
not adversely affect the defense.
In the beginning, the Mujahideen were unprepared and unable to
resist beyond two or three days but, after they developed their fortifications,
they could withstand and push back the Soviets and DRA.
Once the area was cordoned, the Soviets usually launched their attack
along the main road from Zaker-e Sharif and further south from Loy
Karazak. In the north, the usual line of contact was Hokomati Dand,
Pakha Polan, Yakh Karez and Deh Khwaja. This was just outside the
built-up area. Later on, the Soviet and DRA forces established permanent,
well-fortified and well-protected security outposts. The Soviets
had Shorandam hill, Zaker-e Sharif hill and Mala Kala hill. The DRA
had Suf Ghar, Zarah Shar Ghar and Chehelzena Ghar mountain sites.
Once every two months, the Soviets would launch a major cordon and
search against the Malajat area in order to keep it contained.
In November 1987, the Soviets launched an 18-day cordon and
search operation. In the cold dawn, the Soviet and DRA troops moved
from their garrisons and, by 0800 hours, had occupied their normal
blocking positions. Mohammad Shah Kako's base was at Sher-e Surkh
where he commanded some 30 men. There were some 350 Mujahideen
in the Malajat area from his party. The Mujahideen divided the front
line facing western Kandahar into four sectors. Each sector had about
50 men. The northwest sector was a Hizbe-Islami sector. The Pakha
Polan area was held by Mujahideen from Sher-e Surkh, Zaker-e Sharif
and Kukhabad. This meant that Mohammad Shah Kako's sector had
three commanders since there were three factions involved, but cooperation
among the commanders was easy since they were all local and
knew each other. Regi was the third sector and Abdul Razak commanded
this sector. Yakh Karez was the fourth sector and Saranwal
commanded it. Ghafur Jan coordinated the four sectors. The DRA
attacked from the city, but this time the Soviets did not move from
their blocking positions. The DRA infantry were accompanied by