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

VIGNETTE 5
AMBUSHED ON THE HIGH PLAIN
by Commander Haji Aaquelshah Sahak
In May 1987, we were moving supplies from Peshawar, Pakistan to
our base west of Kabul. We followed the Logar route from Parachinar,
Pakistan across the Afghanistan border to Jaji in Paktiya Province.
From there, we followed mountain canyons to Dobandi. Past Dobandi,
the mountains ended and we had a broad plain to cross before we
reached the mountains near our base. We finally reached Dobandi and
stayed there for three days (Map 12-3 - Dobandi). We waited there
while I made sure that the way was clear because the Soviets would set
ambushes to interdict our supplies. I went from Dobandi to Kafar
Dara canyon for information on Soviet activity. The Mujahideen at
Kafar Dara did not have any information either, so I went on to Sepets
where there were several Mujahideen bases belonging to HAR and
Hezb-e Islami. These Mujahideen gave us two guides—Akhunzada of
HAR and Mulla Nawab. We brought up all our supplies to Sepets in
the late afternoon. Including the guides, I had 31 Mujahideen with
me. I planned to go forward, clear the route, establish security positions
on key terrain and likely ambush sites and then bring the supplies
forward. I moved in the middle of the column.
We moved across the open plain from Sepets. There is a place
called the Childrens' cemetery where we stopped to offer our late afternoon
prayers. Since it was still daylight, we moved well spread out
with a distance between every Mujahideen. This was a precaution
against air attacks. I told the guide, Mulla Nawab, to stay with us
until we passed through this area and reached the Gardez highway.
We followed a stream bed through a brush-covered area. We neared
the water mill midpoint between Sepets and Khato Kalay at 1920
hours, when I looked at my watch to see if it was time for evening
prayer. There was high ground on both sides of us. Suddenly machinegun
fire opened up in front of me. At first, I thought that it was my
Mujahideen firing, but then I saw Soviets to the north firing on us. My
Mujahideen immediately scattered and crouched behind bushes. The
Soviets fired at the bushes, but my Mujahideen held their fire. The
Soviets assumed that they had killed all my Mujahideen and jumped
Commander Haji Aaquelshah Sahak is from the Chardehi district of Kabul (a southern suburb).
He was affiliated with NIFA. [Map sheet 2884, vie grid 3058].