Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XII, Afghanistan

143. Article in the President’s Daily Brief¹

Washington, January 4, 1980

USSR-AFGHANISTAN: Situation report

Despite press reports of heavy Soviet participation in counter-insurgency operations [1 line not declassified] the fight against the rebels is still being left to the deteriorating Afghan Army.²

The Soviets have, however, assumed control of Afghan operations. Soviet advisers were in charge of the efforts to restore order in Qandahar. The air supply of units in the field, interrupted during the Soviet intervention, has been revived under Soviet supervision.

Afghan units in areas such as Herat and Mazar-e Sharif, where Soviet troops have been present for several days, report no serious difficulties. A number of units along the Pakistani border, however, remain under siege. In Konarha Province, a 400-man unit has been wiped out and a regimental commander in the provincial capital has come out against the new government.

[section heading not declassified]

[1 paragraph (19 lines) not declassified]

Pakistan-US

[1 paragraph (12 lines) not declassified]

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 8, Afghanistan Crisis—December 1979, PDBs. Top Secret; For the President Only. The full version of this President’s Daily Brief was not filed with this collection. The article printed here was found in this form.
2. Reports to this effect include: “Battles Reported in 3 Provincial Afghan Capitals,” Washington Post, January 2, 1980, p. A1; “Heavy Casualties in Afghan Battle,” Chicago Tribune, January 2, 1980, p. 2; and “Soviet Force Said to Battle Afghan Insurgents in North,” New York Times, January 3, 1980, p. A10. An article in the President’s Daily Brief, January 5, surmised that the press reports “probably originate among Afghan exiles, who tend to exaggerate rebel successes.” [text not declassified] (Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 8, Afghanistan Crisis—December 1979, PDBs)