The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Tomorrow? What time? I think it’s better to arrange such a meeting in the evening. I will tell AlexeiPetrov to invite Taraki at 7:30 pm. Who will interpret at the meeting? Alexei?”“I will take Rurikov with me. He will take notes of the conversation. Alexei Vladimirovichshould focus on the logistics of the meeting. If necessary, I will send my cook and my steward tohim.”“I think Alexei will manage without them. It would be good if as few people as possibleknow of this meeting.”“Yes, but Alexei Vladimirovich should be present at the meeting. I have no secrets fromyour guys. Who knows what manner of conversation we will have? He, Petrov, is a personal friendof Taraki’s.”“Now, here’s a protocol question: Who should appear in the TASS office first? You, orTaraki?”“I think, since this meeting is going to be unofficial, that shouldn’t matter. Do as you please.”The next day, the Soviet ambassador to Afghanistan, Alexander Puzanov, and the secondsecretary of the Soviet embassy, Dmitry Rurikov, arrived at the office of TASS, where NurMohammad Taraki and Alexei Petrov, the KGB operative who worked under the cover of head ofthe Kabul TASS office, were already waiting.Alexander Mikhailovich had seen Taraki before, at receptions at the Soviet embassy, wherethe Afghan politician was sometimes invited as a “representative of the intelligentsia.” However,he had never spoken with Taraki before. When the Soviet ambassador entered the room, Tarakistood up and, beaming, stretched out his arms to greet him. Puzanov greeted him sincerely inreturn. After exchanging traditional Afghan pleasantries, all of the participants of the meeting satdown around the table. Taraki had assumed a radiant, victorious manner, as if saying, “You see?118