The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

peace of the general’s soul was disturbed for a long time after that conversation.Departing, the Afghan smiled to the general as to a friend or a neighbor and said,slightly embarrassed, “Forgive me, Comrade General, for acting insubordinately. I see thatyou are a good, honest man. I would like to give you one bit of advice before sayinggoodbye to you. Never believe any of my countrymen, even if they swear by all the saints.Words do not mean anything here.”Zaplatin immediately recalled that Minister of Defense Qadir used to say the samething to him. Where was Qadir now? Was he in prison, or rotting away six feet under?The major departed.During evening tea, the commander of the brigade asked Zaplatin about hisimpressions of the major.“He is an educated man,” responded Zaplatin evasively.“I assure you that all officers and soldiers in my brigade are prepared to give theirlives for the victory of the revolution,” said Abdul Rauf with great pathos.Having returned to Kabul, General Zaplatin was told that almost immediately afterhis departure, an armed uprising had broken out at the garrison in Asmar. More than ahundred officers and soldiers who were sympathizers of the new regime were killed. Theinfantry brigade, almost in its entirety, took the side of the rebels. Later they were joined byother detachments from the Ninth Mountain Infantry Division that was stationed in Kunarprovince.Abdul Rauf, the commander of the brigade, led the uprising.Zaplatin never heard about the major again. He could have left for the mountainswith the rebels. He could have been killed. Or he could have crossed the border to477