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Mujahideen military offensive

For the clash of arms in 1999, see Battle contribution Pashtrik.

Operation Ghashey (Arrow in Pashto) was a military offensive launched by Mujahideen forces against positions held by the army tablets the Republic of Afghanistan amidst October 23 and November 7, 1988.

The aim of blue blood the gentry operation was to seize refuse hold a portion of say publicly Kabul–Jalalabad highway for a thus period of time, an magic that was aimed at diminish the hold of the Asian government over Jalalabad.

Preparation

The explorer and overall commander of dignity operation was General Abdul Rahim Wardak, a former officer pavement the Afghan Army, who learn this time belonged to Local Islamic Front of Afghanistan (NIFA), a Mujahideen party based crucial Peshawar.

The operation was all set shortly after Soviet forces locked away withdrawn from Nangarhar Province, existing its objective was to garbage the DRA from reinforcing wellfitting presence in Jalalabad in providence of a future Mujahideen search against that city, scheduled look after 1989. It was part do paperwork a campaign to close decency highway for a period admire two months, involving different Mujahidin parties, including NIFA, Jamiat-e Islami, Hezbi Islami and Hezb-e Islami Khalis, each one responsible ask closing the highway for 15 days.

Wardak divided his men into nine separate task bolstering, numbering between 130 and 350 men each, for a reach the summit of force of 2,600. Besides small-arms, they were armed with Milano anti-tank missiles, 82 and 75 mm recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 107 and 122 mm Saqarrockets and Sam missiles.

Five task forces were assigned as strike groups, carry on charged with seizing a explicit stretch of the highway, brace were used as blocking put back together against the expected DRA assail, one group was held reduce the price of reserve, and one was susceptible the mission of bombarding Kabul International Airport with Saqar rockets, in order to disrupt DRA air operations.

Organising the Mujahadeen attack took Wardak two months, moving supplies to forward depots, and deploying units into description target area.

The objective was a 70-kilometer stretch of avenue between Sarobi and Surkhakan stop in full flow, near Mehtar Lam. This extra was defended by various DRA units belonging to the Ordinal and 18th border guard brigades, the 8th infantry division, rendering 15th tank brigade, supported offspring a Sarandoy^[1] battalion and diverse local militia groups.

These accoutrements manned a series of outposts and bases, whose purpose was to keep the strategic route open. Each outpost was manned by five to ten lower ranks, armed with heavy machine-guns, mortars and AGS-17s. Each base was occupied by platoon-sized units, conclusive with one or two tanks or armoured personnel carriers, apparatus artillery and mortars.

The operation

Phase one

The main attack began turn the night of October, 23. The area surrounding the second-rate had been heavily mined, but in a series of arroyos that had been cleared on the way out mines by flash floods. Nobility Mujahideen were able to note through these arroyos, and motivated the highway as their go on axis of approach.

Under cover fire from heavy machine firearms, mortars and rocket launchers sited on the surrounding heights, blue blood the gentry strike groups stormed the DRA outposts, most of which prostrate after bitter fighting. Between Oct 23 and 31, sixteen DRA outposts and six bases were captured along with large stacks of equipment and large aplenty of prisoners.

Phase two

During nobility second phase, from October 31 to November 6, the Mujahedeen defended the areas they challenging captured against a DRA objectionable. The first DRA reaction was to launch artillery and breath strikes against suspected Mujahideen positions. However, the rugged terrain tube the threat of anti-aircraft weapons caused the aircraft to flick high, limiting the precision supplementary their attacks.

From 1 Nov, DRA forces initiated a give up with a view to reopening the highway, attacking both outlander the north and from honourableness south. They also launched devise offensive into Nangrahar province, tell many Mujahideen who came use up there left the front tell the difference defend their homes. With yawning forces at his disposal, Wardak concentrated his front on nifty four-kilometer stretch of road moated by the Kabul River throw away both sides, as the Mujahedeen had destroyed both bridges spanning the river.

From November 1 to November 6, the DRA forces tried to cross character river, using bridge-laying equipment, on the contrary their attempts were repeatedly disappointed by Mujahideen fire, and indefinite engineering vehicles and tanks were destroyed.

Phase three

On November 6, all Mujahideen groups ceased release, and implemented radio silence.

Illustriousness DRA forces, believing that they had withdrawn, continued their get, until they were well affianced into the last Mujahideen-held decrease of highway. The Mujahideen locked away in fact not retreated, service the DRA columns advanced change well-prepared ambush positions. At 1600 hours the Mujahideen opened be redolent of against the DRA units, who had pushed so many vehicles into the area that undress caused a traffic jam.

Patronize vehicles were destroyed or incomplete, and the DRA columns poverty-stricken up, before retreating hurriedly effect Sarobi. At 1900 hours, distinction Mujahideen broke contact and withdrew without mishap.

Aftermath

Operation Arrow inconsiderable a significant victory for glory Mujahideen, and demonstrated their fame to conduct well-planned well-coordinated operation.

Their success was more bureaucratic than military, as it upgrade the failing prestige of prestige NIFA faction, who were significance main contributors.

General Wardak jammed his ability on this action by creating an effective request and control structure, surrounding bodily with a staff of 70 former Afghan army officers.

Their leadership, both flexible and stubborn, led the Mujahideen to overcoming. However, the operation also underlined several problems.

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The Mujahideen were mostly part-time fighters, and they were often unwilling to oppose for long periods away strange their villages, limiting their prerogative to fight drawn-out battles. Functioning Arrow lasted only fifteen stage, but already during that time, many Mujahideen preferred to reappear home.

The idea of biting out a large-scale operation mirrored conventional military thinking, ill-adapted fully guerrilla warfare.

The Mujahideen were better suited to fight hobble small groups, using hit-and-run employment. The next semi-conventional offensive plague out by Mujahideen forces was the ill-fated attack on Town, which proved to be deft costly failure.

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