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

VIGNETTE 12
KRER ONE
by Commander Assadullah
In late March 1986, the Soviet and DRA forces launched a major
offensive against Mujahideen bases at Krer on the Pakistani border
(Map 11-15 - Krer 1). Krer is located east of the Sarkani District
center in Kunar Province. The Mujahideen maintained two bases in
the mountain valley named "Shahid Abdul Latif and "Fatha." The
Mujahideen could reach the Bajuar area in Pakistan from the two
bases. The bases served as border supply depots and staging areas
for Mujahideen attacks against the Soviet/DRA forces in Kunar
Province. My Asama Ben Zaid Regiment manned both of the Krer
bases. The regiment's manpower fluctuated depending on the
requirements and situation. The proximity of the bases to Mujahideen
camps across the border in Pakistan made it easier to reinforce
the Krer regiment at short notice. In March 1986, prior to the enemy
offensive, my regiment was under-strength. Later in the battle,
when reinforcements arrived from Bajuar in Pakistan, the number of
Mujahideen reached nearly 400.
We had many indications that the Soviets and DRA were planning
an attack, but we did not know when it would be launched. During
the last week of March, when the weather was still cold and the
mountain tops were still covered with snow, we detected enemy movement
from the Sarkani direction across the Nawabad bridge. The
enemy made no attempt to conceal or camouflage his action and
apparently wanted to draw our attention to his movement. We later
found out that the enemy's show of force was part of a deception plan
to cover another attack that the enemy launched from Pashad—about
20 kilometers southwest of Sarkani. We did not expect an attack on
Krer from Pashad. We prepared for an enemy attacking from
Commander Assadullah is from Charquala village in Narang Subdistrict of Kunar Province.
He is the son of Mawlawi Mohammad Amin. He graduated from high school and emigrated
to Pakistan in 1978 and later entered the Jamiat Islami faction's (JIA) military academy
and completed the year-long course. He became a Mujahideen regimental commander of
the Krer-based regiment. This was the Asama Ben Zaid Regiment of Sarkani District
(Asama Ben Zaid was a close companion of the Prophet Mohammad and one of the
Prophet's military leaders. At one point, Asama ben Zaid fought the Byzantines). The
Regiment belonged to the Sayyaf faction (IUA) and so Commander Assadullah switched
factions. [Map sheets 3287 and 3387],