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

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

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Page 370 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 />

Prov<strong>in</strong>ce. We charged reasonable prices. The <strong>Soviet</strong>s and local<br />

people got used to see<strong>in</strong>g us <strong>the</strong>re and buy<strong>in</strong>g from us. We kept this<br />

up for several days. At night, we would work on <strong>the</strong> pushcart. We<br />

put <strong>in</strong> a false bottom <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> cart so that we could put our bombs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

bottom of <strong>the</strong> cart and <strong>the</strong>y would be undetected even if <strong>the</strong> cart were<br />

<strong>in</strong>spected. We attacked on <strong>the</strong> 2nd of October 1983. We loaded five<br />

bombs <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> bottom of <strong>the</strong> cart. We <strong>in</strong>serted time pencil fuses <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> bombs and set <strong>the</strong>m for 0743. Then we put <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> false bottom<br />

and loaded <strong>the</strong> cart with produce. Six <strong>Mujahideen</strong> carried out <strong>the</strong><br />

attack. None of us carried weapons. We brought <strong>the</strong> cart to <strong>the</strong> bus<br />

stop as usual. Thirteen <strong>Soviet</strong>s crowded around it to see what was on<br />

sale. We slipped away from <strong>the</strong> cart and mixed with <strong>the</strong> local people.<br />

The bombs went off at 0743 just before <strong>the</strong> bus arrived. The blast<br />

killed 13, wounded 12 and damaged a nearby store. The DRA<br />

searched <strong>the</strong> crowd but made no arrests from our group.<br />

COMMENTARY: Many people f<strong>in</strong>d such bomb<strong>in</strong>g attacks morally reprehensible,<br />

yet have no qualms when much larger bombs are dropped<br />

from aircraft. Nei<strong>the</strong>r type of bomb<strong>in</strong>g attack is surgical arid both<br />

types kill <strong>in</strong>nocent bystanders. The only real difference is <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> size<br />

of <strong>the</strong> bomb and <strong>the</strong> means of delivery. The <strong>Mujahideen</strong> lacked an air<br />

force but reta<strong>in</strong>ed a limited bomb<strong>in</strong>g option. The <strong>Soviet</strong>s had an air<br />

force and conducted large-scale bomb<strong>in</strong>g attacks throughout <strong>the</strong> war.

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