The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

the drunken company of young prostitutes and musicians to his work in the ministry.’”“One can think that there are scores of people, all highly educated militarystrategists and ascetics who are eager to spend nights pouring over military maps, in line totake the position of minister of defense,” intervened Osadchiy.“Naturally Watanjar could not forgive Amin for such overtures to Taraki,” Bubnovcontinued. “Mahmoud says that the minister of defense had a very frank conversationabout it with Taraki, and Taraki said to him, ‘there is nothing for you to worry about as longas I am the head of the country.’”“It sounds like Watanjar was joined by his old friend, also a former member of a tankcrew, Minister of Internal Affairs Mazdouryar. He is also unhappy with Amin, for notsanctioning the elimination of criminal gangs in Kabul, which consist of relatives of thePDPA Central Committee members Alemyar and Sahrai—fervent Amin supporters. Fornow it’s difficult to say whether these ministers have united into a group or not, butMahmoud is certain that they will eventually unite,” Bubnov summed up his report.“Does Taraki have full information about these disagreements?” asked Ivanov.“He is certainly aware of them. After Amin demanded that Taraki remove Watanjar,the minister of defense came to Taraki to clarify the issue. However, Mahmoud is notcertain about the extent to which Taraki is aware of the details,” said Bubnov.“Boris Semyonovich, don’t you think that the so-called ‘opposition’ is created byTaraki on purpose, in order to provide a counterbalance to the expanding influence ofAmin?” suggested Osadchiy. “It is hard to believe that these ministers may have their ownpolitical ideas, interests, or ambitions.”“I share Vilior Gavrilovich’s point of view,” said Bogdanov.435