The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Kabanov from the KGB Representative Office. Amin warmly greeted our officers and, leavingone of his bodyguards by the car, entered the palace with the other two. Tarun met him on theground floor. Amin let him and one of his bodyguards walk ahead as he followed a few pacesbehind with another bodyguard. They began to climb the stairs to the second floor. Theshooting began when the first two were upstairs. Who was the first to shoot? I think Tarunmost likely wanted to push Taraki’s guards away from the door, and reached for his pistolwhile threatening them. Taraki’s bodyguards’ nerves gave out and they started shooting.But this is only one version of the events. The next day Taraki’s bodyguards werearrested by the order of Amin. They disappeared without a trace.Before leaving the palace I said to the general secretary, “It looks like we should stop byComrade Amin’s.” Taraki didn’t object. We said goodbye and within a few minutes we were inthe General Staff building. Amin seemed to be sincerely glad to see us. He took me by thehands and I noticed blood on the sleeve of his sports jacket. “Are you wounded, ComradeAmin?”“No. I was helping my guard. He was wounded.”I tried to explain that a mistake had occurred, that the bodyguards from both sides wereto blame, but Amin interrupted me immediately. “No, Comrade Puzanov. That was an attempton my life. I survived by a miracle.” He then addressed Ivanov. “So now do you see that there isa plot against me? This blood can only be washed off by blood,” he said, pointing to the sleeveof his sports jacket.At that very moment, the blast of a tank cannon shot was heard nearby. One of the carsparked near the building blew up. It was clear that we needed to leave immediately. It was toodangerous to stay there. Besides, Amin categorically rejected our proposals for a peaceful539