Afghanistan Reversing Gears

In downtown Kabul last week, a unit of Soviet and Afghan troops paraded through the streets towing a fresh supply of SS-1 Scud missiles. Elsewhere in Afghanistan the Soviets also deployed 30 MiG-27 attack aircraft and began striking at mujahedin fighters with Backfire bombers. Why the sudden buildup? In Moscow First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh announced that the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan “is being suspended” because of new attacks by mujahedin rebels. Blaming the U.S. and Pakistan for continuing to give arms to the guerrillas, he hinted that the original pullout deadline of Feb. 15 may not be met.

The State Department charged that the buildup called into question Moscow’s commitment to a “genuine political settlement.” The fact is, neither superpower has halted military aid to its ally in the Afghan conflict. Now the Soviets want to buy time for President Najibullah’s government, which seems to be losing the war. The Soviet pullout will likely resume, but if Soviet combat aircraft remain in the skies, the mujahedin will have to postpone victory celebrations.