The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

***Vladimir Kozin, a thirty-year-old student of the Diplomatic Academy, was notsurprised when he was told to arrive at the International Department of the CentralCommittee on Tuesday morning. His task was to work with high-level Afghan guests. It wasthe second time that Kozin was asked to interpret from Pashto at the important talks in theKremlin. On March 20, Kozin found himself in the pavilion of the government airportVnukovo-2, where Nur Mohammad Taraki was due to arrive from Kabul. Because this wasan unofficial visit, in essence a secret one, only Kosygin was there to meet the Afghanleader.While waiting for the airplane to arrive, Kosygin studied some documents inpreparation for his meeting with Taraki. On top of the pile of papers was Taraki’sbiography, which had been prepared per Kosygin’s request. The biography consisted of adry list of dates, positions, and books that had been written by Taraki, which made itdifficult to better understand the man with whom Kosygin was due to begin serious talks.So Kosygin asked the interpreter to join him.“You worked in Afghanistan. Tell me about Taraki,” said Kosygin.“He was born in 1917,” Kozin began readily. “He graduated…”“No, no, no,” Kosygin interrupted him. “I don’t need dates and diplomas. I want toknow what sort of person he is. Tell me about personal characteristics that will help meunderstand the essence of his nature.”Vladimir was embarrassed. “I understand, Alexei Nikolayevich. Allow me to startagain. Nur Mohammad Taraki was born in the year of the October Revolution, in a Pashtunpeasant family. His father was a herder. He was destined to repeat the life of his father, to375