The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

eproached Mahmoud for not alerting his Soviet comrades at least twenty-four hours inadvance. The Afghan shrugged; it was possible that he himself had not known the previousday how things would turn out. Victor stopped him as he was preparing to leave.“Wait, let’s agree that tomorrow, at five in the morning, I will come to Mikrorayon.You know the street, the one our specialists live on. It’s not far from your home. At thattime, you should walk outside. If you are wearing your traditional Afghan clothing, I willtake it as a sign that there will be no armed military uprising. If you are wearing a militaryuniform, I will take it to mean that there will be an armed uprising.”Afterwards Victor took his guest to Mikrorayon, where the plotters were still insession.At five in the morning, as light was just breaking, Bubnov parked his car near thehouse of the Soviet specialists. His appearance there so early wouldn’t attract undueattention. Kabul wakes up early; five in the morning is the time that traders go to thebazaar, bicyclists appear in the streets, and cars begin honking. Mahmoud appeared atalmost the same moment that Victor turned off his car’s engine. The agent walked directlyby the car, looking straight ahead and pretending not to notice the operative. He waswearing a military uniform.Bubnov stopped at home to drink a quick cup of tea before dashing to the embassy.It was going to be a long day. There was still plenty of time until the beginning of theworkday, but Bubnov found the KGB resident in his office. Colonel Osadchiy was excitedlyscribbling something at his desk. Victor saw his own report from the previous night amongthe papers on Osadchiy’s desk.“Come in, come in, you agitator,” the resident said with a smile. “Here is the cable11