The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

“Is it possible to see a floor plan of the palace?” someone inquired from the backrow.The seniors at the desk exchanged a look before one of them * confirmed, ratherwithout conviction, “We will familiarize you with the floor plan at a later point in time.”“What should we do with Amin after capturing the palace? Should he be takenprisoner? Should he be executed on the spot?”“This is not your concern. There will be people there, including members of thePolitburo of the Central Committee of the PDPA, who will take care of Amin. They will knowwhat to do.”“What if the guards put up intense resistance, and receive support from commandosfrom the Bala Hissar Fortress?” asked one of the Zenit operatives, who obviously wasfamiliar with Kabul.“According to intelligence reports, the guards are positively inclined towards theSoviet military men and will not open fire upon you,” assured an elder commander.“And if they do?” many voices asked. “What should we do then?”“Then,” the “senior sergeant” spoke sternly, “you will have to demonstrateeverything that you have been trained to do, and fulfill your task at any cost. Even,” hepaused, “at the cost of your own life. Any more questions?”Now there were no more questions remaining. The meeting’s participants departedin silence. Transport aircrafts containing personnel from the 345th Airborne Divisionbegan to land on the landing strip, one after another. The battalion and reconnaissance* Most probably, this would have been the deputy commander of the airborne troops, Lieutenant General N.Gus’kov.694