The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

“Two variants are possible here,” he explained. “Either the poison didn’t work yetand we should wait longer, or the Coca-Cola neutralized its effect. * In that case, thesituation has changed dramatically, and some decision must be made soon.”Kryuchkov, normally firmly composed, assumed a heavy silence.“Do you understand that we already airlifted everybody?” he said finally. “That theplane with Comrade K is flying from Tashkent to Kabul? That the special forces have beengiven the order to begin?”“We will be informing you about the situation in the palace,” promised Ivanov.“Fine,” mumbled Kryuchkov in displeasure, and hung up.Meanwhile, fighters of the Muslim Battalion, Zenit operatives, and paratroopers inBagram were indeed ordered to board military vehicles and to get ready to march onKabul.***Valery Kurilov found out by chance that the operation for which they had beenbrought to Bagram would start at any moment. When walking one evening not far from histent, he noticed that part of Bagram had been surrounded by barbed wire and the militarybunkers were draped with camouflage. Valery took this as a sign that important militaryfigures were visiting. Upon closer inspection, he saw that strange persons in unmarkedsoldiers’ overcoats walked within that fenced territory. Valery recognized his oldacquaintance Sarwari in one of those figures. Gulabzoi was nearby. The former head ofsecurity also recognized one of his recent saviors and was very glad to see him again.“Are you back? Are all of your other comrades here as well?”* The tests that were later conducted allegedly confirmed the latter variant.691