The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

that Moscow did not seem to fully appreciate what had happened in Kabul in April.“Yes, I remember your comrades’ warnings very well,” said Taraki. “You had given meadvice not to rush, and to collaborate with Daoud’s regime. But now it is clear to everybody thatwe were the ones who were correct. In many respects, our revolution echoes the OctoberRevolution. However, we did not achieve our victory under the cover of night, but in open battle,in the rays of the bright sun, and this gives particular meaning to our victory. What is happeningnow in Afghanistan is the beginning of a dictatorship of the proletariat in the Soviet style. But whattook you sixty years to achieve will take us five years. Come back to us in a year and you will seehow much Afghanistan has changed. Our mosques will be empty. Our peasants will have createdcooperatives, like your collective farms. Our revolution will show the way to socialism for all of thepeoples in the East. I hope that, as a communist, you agree with our position?”Kryuchkov nodded readily, and shot Bogdanov a pregnant look. The colonel interpretedthis look in his own way: “Now, you will be the one listening to these speeches day after day, andyou are expected to react correctly. And we shall have to decide what ‘correctly’ means.”Kryuchkov demonstrated his legendary caution and did not allow himself to be dragged intofurther discussion with Taraki. He listened to Taraki’s monologue politely and uttered somemeaningless phrases in response, signaling the end of the meeting.Kryuchkov met with Amin three times. Later, he recalled that at first, the “favorite pupil ofTaraki” left him with the favorable impression of someone who was young, energetic, eloquent,and dedicated to the Soviet Union. But some details had already begun to concern Kryuchkov. Forexample, it was obvious that Amin considered himself to be the unspoken master of the country,and that he was going to continue mass repressions, justifying them by the need to eliminate all ofthe obvious and hidden enemies. It was evident that while claiming his loyalty to Soviet comrades,207