The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

courtyard.”“Yes, of course.” Biryukov opened the gate, and the four cars drove into the courtyard.There were personal bodyguards to the Central Committee members beside the drivers in thecars.Karmal entered the foyer of the residence, where he had earlier been received by Petrovand Petrov’s predecessor Gavrilin on numerous occasions, as if he owned the place. Anahita, withher six-month-old baby in her arms, the son of Baryalai, went upstairs, into the custody ofBiryukov’s wife, Nina. Najib and Sarboland sat in the hall.“We must urgently meet with Comrade Puzanov,” Karmal explained. “Our earlier requestfor a meeting was rejected. However, the matter is urgent and cannot wait.”From what Karmal said, Leonid understood that his guests were convinced that their Sovietcomrades did not know how the Politburo decision to send the Parchamis into honorable exile hadbeen made. The visitors were convinced that if their comrades knew the truth, they wouldimmediately intervene with the Khalqis and restore justice.Biryukov was a newcomer to the Kabul Residency, but he knew certain things about thesituation that had evolved by the summer of 1978. Listening to Karmal, he was surprised by hownaive Karmal was to place faith in his Soviet comrades’ ability and willingness to aid his cause. Butwhat was to be done? He couldn’t simply kick the guests out, and there they sat, patiently waitingfor his assistance.Leonid served tea and said that he would walk to the embassy and try to find Puzanovthere. The embassy staff member grinned when telling him that the ambassador had gone fishing,and claimed that nobody knew when he might return. Leonid saw Ivan Ivanovich Ershov in theKGB Residency. He listened to his colleague and issued “valuable” advice after some rumination.186