The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

organize and lead another, “truly socialist,” revolution, the goal of which would be the eliminationof the Khalqis. But if I decide to do something like this, the new uprising would most probably fail,and my friends and allies would be executed. Soviet comrades will perceive my friends and me asa mad gang of traitors, who oppose the socialist development of Afghanistan. It seems that I havebeen transferred from one prison to another. Yes—now I am a bird in a golden cage. It would havebeen better for me to stay in Daoud’s prison. It would have been better for me to have been shot.Then I would have become a hero of the people, a shaheed who died for the happiness of Afghans.Who am I now?Once, Nur Ahmad Nur, who had just been appointed as the minister of the interior, stoppedby Karmal’s office with a list of candidates for the top positions in his ministry. Karmal read thedocument attentively and asked several questions. Having received Nur’s detailed explanations, heagreed with him.The list consisted of representatives of the past regime, mostly criminologists, technicalspecialists, and administrative assistants. There were several people there who had directconnections with the major feudal lords and tribal leaders. The list consisted of an equaldistribution of Khalqis and Parchamis. Karmal wrote his resolution on the list: “Agree.”Then Nur took the document to Taraki to obtain his signature. Taraki looked at the list and,without saying a word about the candidates, told the minister to consult on the matter withComrade Hafizullah Amin. Nur Ahmad Nur, not trying to hide his irritation, challenged Taraki.“Why should the minister of foreign affairs deal with appointments in the Ministry of theInterior?”Taraki smiled, looked at Nur, and responded, “Well, son, you know as well as I do thatComrade Amin was the head of the underground organization of army and police officers before155