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

VIGNETTE 10
DURANAY AMBUSH
by Commander Haji Mohammad Seddiq
In September 1983, my group and I were visiting the area of
Maidan. The Maidan Mujahideen had heard about a future convoy
going from Kabul to Ghazni and were planning to ambush it. I joined
HIH commanders Ghulam Sakhi, Captain Amanullah, Mawlawi
Halim and Zabet Wali in setting up an ambush some 30 kilometers
southwest of Kabul. Together, we had some 60 Mujahideen armed with
AK-47s, 60mm mortars, RPG-7s and an 82mm recoilless rifle. We
planned two ambush sites. One group would deploy east of the road
between Duranay Bazar and Sur Pul. The other group would deploy
west of the road on the forward slope of Duranay mountain close to the
road (Map 11 - Duranay). The Mujahideen already had well-prepared
positions at both these sites.
We occupied our positions at dawn and waited for the column. At
about 0900 hours, the convoy came from Kabul. It was a column of
trucks and armored vehicles. A forward security element preceded the
convoy. It drove through the ambush area, but failed to detect our
forces. Then the convoy entered the ambush area. We let it pass
through until the head of the column reached the second ambush site
at Duranay mountain. Now, the column was in about a five-kilometer
stretch of kill zone. We opened up from all positions along the entire
length of the exposed column.
A heavy battle ensued as we fired at all the vehicles in the open.
The enemy had a security outpost at Sur Pul which joined in the battle
and fired on our positions. Despite this security post fire, and the
fire from the armored vehicles, the Soviet response was fairly passive.
Our prepared positions protected us, and the Soviets apparently
did not have any infantry accompanying the convoy, so they could
not dismount and maneuver against us. Our positions were vulnerable
to a flank attack through Kashmirian or Ghlo Ghar, but the
apparent lack of Soviet infantry support kept their vehicles pinned
Haji Mohammad Seddiq is from No-Burja village in Logar Province. The village is in the
Tangi-Wardak area which connects the Saydabad District of Wardak Province to the Baraki
Barak District in the Logar Province. Commander Seddiq's village is located on the border
between the two provinces. Therefore, his command fought in both provinces in coordination
with other Mujahideen. Commander Haji Mohammad Seddiq was affiliated with
Hekmatyar's HIH. [Map sheet 2785, vie grid 8494].