Jalali A. & Grau L. Afghan Guerrilla Warfare. In the Words of the Mujahideen Fighters

Zenith Press, 2001. — 448 p.Afghan Guerrilla Warfare - In the Words of the Mujahideen Fighters by Ali Ahmad Jalali and Lester W. Grau tells the story of the war between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, few experts believed the fledgling Mujahideen resistance movement had a chance of withstanding the modern, mechanized onslaught of the Soviet Army. But somehow, the Mujahideen prevailed against a larger and decisively better equipped foe. No one predicted the Soviet Union would withdraw in defeat in 1989. With more than 100 first-hand reports from Mujahideen combat veterans and maps illustrating locations and disposition of forces, this book is a tactical look at a decentralized army of foot-mobile guerrillas as they wage war against a superior force. Learn about Mujahideen ambushes, raids, shelling attacks, fights against heliborne insertions, attacks on Soviet strong points, and urban combat in this rare look at the Soviet-Afghan conflict.
What caused the Soviet withdrawal? The Soviets realized that they were trapped in an unwinnable war where they were suffering “death from a thousand cuts” by an intractable enemy who had no hope of winning, but fought on because it was the right thing to do. After failing to achieve military victory, the Soviet Union cut its losses and withdrew. The Soviet Union lost 13,833 killed. Over 1.3 million Afghans died and over a third of the population became refugees. Most have not yet returned to war-torn Afghanistan.There have been few studies of guerrilla warfare from the guerrilla’s perspective. To capture this perspective and the tactical experience of the Mujahideen, the United States Marine Corps commissioned this study and sent two retired combat veterans to interview Mujahideen. The authors were well received and generously assisted by various Mujahideen who willingly talked about their long, bitter war. The authors have produced a unique book which tells the guerrillas’ story as interpreted by military professionals. This is a book about small-unit guerrilla combat. This is a book about death and survival, adaptation and perseverance.
This is a book for the combat-arms company and field grade officer and NCO. It provides an understanding of guerrilla field craft, tactics, techniques and procedures. It has application in Basic and Advanced Officer and NCO courses as well as special warfare courses. Senior leaders will also find valuable insights for training and supporting guerrilla forces as well as defending against guerrilla forces. This book is a companion piece to The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan which National Defense University Press published in 1996.Table of ContentsIntroductionForeword
Acknowledgements
PrefaceAmbushes
Vignettes:
Yet Another Ambush at the Mamur Hotel
Ambush South of the Tangi Waghjan Gorge
Ambush at Kanday
Ambush on the Jalalabad-Asadabad Road
No-Pula Ambush
Two Convoys in the Kill Zone
Ambush Near Abdullah-e Burj
Deh-Khwaja Ambush
Duranay Ambush
Kandahar Ambushes
Ambush at Qala-e Haidar
Ambush at the Sadre Azam Hill
Ambush at Mazar Creek
Ambush at Qafus Tangay
Sisay AmbushRaids
Vignettes:
Raid on the Totumdara Security Post
Chamtala Raid
Raid on Bagrami District Headquarters
Attack on the Tsawkey Security Outposts
Raid on Pul-e Charkhi Radio Transmitter Station
Raid from Cheltan on Outposts in the Kabul Suburbs
Raid on Mahipar Outposts
Raid on Lataband Security Outposts
Raid on Outposts at Wreshmin Gorge
Raid on the Bridge Post in AlingarShelling Attacks
Vignettes:
A Shelling Attack Turns Bad
A New Years Present for the SovietsAttacking a Strong Point
Vignettes:
Taking Alingar District Capital
The Battle for Panjwayee
Attack on the Bodyalay Garrison
Attack on Sorubay
torming Gula’i
Destruction of the Bagh-e Mumtaz BrigadeMine Warfare
Vignettes
Mujahideen Demolition Methods
Mining attacks near Mehtar LamBlocking Enemy Lines of Communication
Vignettes
Carving up Regiments on the Approach to Wazi
Blocking the Paghman Highway
Road Block at Estalef
Defense of a River Line and Road Block at Sayad
The Defense Against the Soviet Operation 'Magistral'
Operation Gashey (Arrow in Pushto)
The Battle for the Khairokhel Post
The Battle for Spina Thana BaseSiege Warfare
Vignettes
Failed Siege at Urgun
Dehrawud OffensiveDefending Against Raids
Vignettes:
Soviet Raid on Mujahideen Hideout at Sayghani
Battle for Alishang District Center
Vision in the Bar Kot Valley
Surprised by the Soviets in the Dara-e NurFighting Heliborne Insertions
Vignettes
Soviet Heliborne Raid Achieves Surprise
Soviet raid on Kanda
Air Assault on Maro StrongholdDefending Against a Cordon and Search
Vignettes:
Battle of Baraki Barak
Defending Against An Offensive in Paghman
Battle for Kama
Defending against a Cordon and Search Operation in Parwan
Last Stand on the Islands Opposite Gerdi KatsDefending Base Camps
Vignettes:
Soviet Offensive through Surkh Rud
Defending Surkhab Base Camp
Fall of Surkhab Base Camp
Loss of the Tor Ghar Base Camp
Battles for Sharafat Koh Mountain Fortress
Qala-e Naw Base Camp Defense
Defending the Suburbs of Kandahar
Defending the Malajat
Battle for Chaharqulba Village
Zhawar One
Zhawar Two
Krer One
Krer Two
The Fall of Chaghni Base CampCounterambushes
Vignettes:
Caught in a Soviet Ambush
Ambushed at Farza
Blasting out of an Ambush
Caught in a DRA Ambush
Ambushed on the High PlainFighting in an Encirclement
Vignettes:
A trip to the “Governor’s House” goes bad
The Battle for Musa Qaleh
Escape from the Arghanday EncirclementUrban Combat
Vignettes:
Kidnapping a Soviet Adviser
Four Urban Bomb Attacks
Incident at Qala-e Jabar
Afshar Ambush
Remote-control Attack on a Convoy in the Suburbs
Attack on the Ministry of Defense
Alcohol Can Be Deadly
Raid on Balahessar Fortress
Raid on the Kabul Metropolitan Bus Transportation Authority
Weapons raid in Charikar
Night raid on a city outpost
Raid on Kandahar Communications Center
Attack on KHAD Headquarters
Raid on the 15th Division GarrisonConclusionGlossary
Symbols library
Index
About the authors