The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Khan, Valery treated Dvoryankov to a cold beer. Then they walked and talked, shufflingamidst dry red and yellow leaves.Nikolai Alexandrovich told Valery that he had had a very warm meeting with Taraki.They drank Queen Anne whisky through the night. They ate pilaf and kebab. Taraki wasvery relaxed and down-to-earth. They addressed each other as close friends andreminisced, reciting poetry in Pashto and joking with one another.The professor, keeping in mind the conversation with Starostin in the hotel room,asked Taraki, “What is your opinion of the propaganda campaign to establish your image asthe head of state among ordinary Afghans?” Taraki seemed puzzled by this question. Heevaded a direct answer, instead suggesting that Dvoryankov discuss it with HafizullahAmin. According to Taraki, Amin had given orders pertaining to this campaign to theMinistry of Information and Culture. Amin was also in charge of monitoring the realizationof his recommendations.After Dvoryankov had inhaled a sufficient volume of the fresh mountain air,Starostin invited Nikolai Alexandrovich for dinner at his home. He had no doubt thatTamara had cooked a delicious dinner and awaited their arrival.Their conversation continued in Starostin’s home.“My visit with Taraki strengthened my confidence that the April Revolution isbecoming stronger and stronger,” declared Dvoryankov. “The decisive destruction of theupper and most dangerous echelon of the internal enemies—the Parchamis—is atestament to my conviction.”“Nikolai Alexandrovich—the Khalqis have destroyed this first, upper echelon, butwhat’s next? There will be a second, third, fourth, and other echelons. The power of the272