CONSPIRACY AGAINST AMINA

Afghanistan. 1979

Hafizullah Amin became the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Afghanistan after the struggle for power. People′s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (NDPA) - Communist Party - from the very beginning has been split into two factions: the Bolsheviks "and" Menshevik ". "Bolshevik" was led by Hyp Mohammed Taraki and Amin, "Menshevik" - Babrak Karmal. Moscow was able to reconcile the rivals, but as it turned out it was just decoration.

Karmal soon made a secret alliance with Taraki, leaving isolated Amin. But when in April 1978 in Kabul, began rioting and then chairman of PC Mohammed Daoud arrested the Communists, freedom has a Ameen. He took advantage of this fact and presented the case so that he allegedly led a successful uprising against Daoud.

Amin was able to restore its influence in line with the NDPA Taraki, who became chairman of the PC and the Prime Minister and received at its office zama the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. But Taraki and Karmal were still holding the stone against Amin for sinus, and in 1978 in Moscow issued a conspiracy to overthrow him all this time Taraki asked ourselves the protection of our government, not trusting any of his. In his distress, Amin found out about it and grabbed Taraki himself, put in jail where that immediately killed, and he proclaimed himself head of state. And the first thing, like his predecessor, began to request protection and yourself.

All attempts to Amin to mend relations with the United States and the closest neighbors had no success. Of course, he wanted to encourage them to abandon aid to Afghan rebels. He also tried to get rid of the obtrusive and Soviet tutelage, to strive for greater self-reliance, to enhance communication and contacts with the outside world. In doing so, Amin was not going to break with the Soviet Union, as well as its economic and military aid could really count on. Moreover, continually asked to enter the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, though they will garrisons in major cities - it will allow the Afghan army launched a major operation against bandits in the mountains.

In October 1979, the Task Force special "Zenith" has held a concealed operation in Afghanistan. Its members, in the guise of local residents, as would blend into the Afghans to find out how they will respond to the input of the Soviet troops.

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

Their conclusion, deadly for those who contemplate intervention. Entering the Soviet troops would not simply a negative reaction of the people - it would mean war with Afghanistan.

But the leadership of the KGB conclusion of its experts, met a hostile reception, and chief KGB Y. Andropov ignore. But there was other information. Here, for example, that writes the information to prevail when the KGB, one of the leaders of the Soviet counterintelligence, Major-General BC Shironina:

"Documentary materials showed that long-Amin came into contact with American intelligence and took the guidance to the United States. Upon seizing power, he secretly had discussed options for possible support of the American regime until the entry under the specious pretext the occupying forces . . . In the United States, in particular, harvested plan disembarking on. the request of Amin, a major military landing using the Kandahar airfield. It rapidly deploy troops in Kabul, as well as in some other, mainly eastern provinces. " And Defense Minister DF Ustinov grumbling: "If Americans can afford to conduct these operations for tens of thousands of kilometers from its borders, at the very edge of the Soviet Union, why we can not protect its interests in neighboring Afghanistan?"

In his close aides were speaking: Dmitry Fedorovich sincerely believe that only the Soviet troops appear in Afghanistan, as some of the rebels lay down their arms immediately, while others simply flee.

Objections military personnel - Chief of General Staff, NV Ogarkova and his deputy, SF Ahromeeva were ignored.

Nasty role played in the wort and direction of international department, more exactly, Ponomarev, and Ulyanovsk. They incited Andropov and Ustinov to military intervention, as if giving ideological lining adventure afoot. Afghanistan, they charge, not just a friendly neighboring country - it is almost a socialist state.

In early December 1979, Andropov sent to the Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee LI Brezhnev was a note that became a prologue to the invasion of Afghanistan. By it was top secret way - by hand, in a single copy, even the date is not listed.

Impetus for its creation was the chief representative of the telegram KGB in Kabul, BS Ivanova, where, it was reported that Amin - CIA agent, one by one in secret is found in suburban restaurants with the American Chargé d′affaires, pletet conspiracy - is discussing a plan the U.

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

S. invasion of Afghanistan. American ships with troops already approaching the coast of Pakistan. They landed landing, which is seen in Afghanistan. Not far from the so-Dzhelalaba already good squad, acting under the guise of specialists in irrigation.

Based on this information, the KGB chief wrote to the Secretary-General:

"Developments in Afghanistan has created, on the one hand, the threat of the April revolution gains, but on the other - a threat to our positions in Afghanistan. Now there is no guarantee that Amin did not ask the West for their own power. "

Andropov makes such a conclusion. Recently, a group of Afghan communists abroad (Babrak Karmal and Sarwar), informed us of plans for the uprising, and asked for assistance, including military assistance, if required. We have two battalions that are in Kabul, so that we can, if necessary, to provide some support. However, in exceptional circumstances, the extreme case, we need to have a grouping of troops posted along the border. "If such an operation will be carried out, it will enable us to resolve issues of protecting the gains of the April revolution, the restoration of Leninist principles of public and party building in the Afghan leadership and strengthen our position in this country. "

Perhaps, in this note, Andropov, as in any other document that clearly shows how and why the Soviet Union was in Afghanistan.

Books on Afghanistan all the attention being paid to the troops and almost no mention of when and how there was a plan of liquidation Amin. In fact, the main thing in the script, which was developed in Moscow - the removal of Amin. And the troops considered only as a side-event, aimed at first to become a pillar of the new regime in the event of riots and speeches of opposition.

In August 1978 in Moscow at the right of migrants appeared faction leader "brocade" Babrak Karmal, who were at the other the role of the new Afghan leader. According to expert estimates, the Central Committee, though he enjoys strong support within the party because he was asked to lead the struggle for the overthrow of Amin. He immediately agreed.

November 12, from airfields Chirchik and Tashkent in Bagram airbase to Kabul jumps over a 154 th brigade of special purpose number 520. PERSONNEL - only three nationalities, Uzbeks, Turkmens, and Tajiks. It is a national of the battalion and then was called "Muslim".

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

All officers and men dressed in Afghan army uniform, and apparently not much different from the local military. Officially, the campaign issued the decision of the Politburo, only 6 December. Meanwhile, the special during the month involved in training, waiting for the nomination in Kabul.

On instructions from Moscow′s new ambassador visited Taba and Amin said that the Soviet Government agreed to his requests to send two battalions to reinforce the protection of the residence of the Head of State and the Bagram Airbase. These units have been deployed in Afghanistan on 3 and 14 December.

With one of them secretly flew Babrak Karmal, who was among the Soviet officers, heavily guarded KGB. Around the same time in Afghanistan and flown the Quartet disgraced former associates of the Secretary-General Taraki, which so zealously hunted Amin. They secretly fled from their supporters in Kabul, and Ambassador Amina said the long-awaited announcement: the Soviet leadership is prepared to take him to Moscow on an official friendly visit.

Spring events start rapidly unwind on 8 December. On this day in the office of Brezhnev in the Kremlin meeting was narrow, which was attended by only Brezhnev, Andropov, Suslov, Gromyko, and Ustinov. In the end, decided to work on two fronts. First, the hands of the KGB secret services to eliminate Amin and Karmal to replace him. Secondly, to support this action to send Soviet troops in Afghanistan.

Tenth December, the Chief of General Staff Ogarkova caused the office to Brezhnev. There were already Andropov, Ustinov and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gromyko. Based on the opinion of the General Staff, Ogarkov again objected to the troops, said that the Afghans must be given the opportunity to solve their problems. Reminded of the traditions of the people, not terpevshego Inozemtsev on their land, warned of the dangers of engaging our troops in the fighting. All in vain.

The fateful decision was taken by the Politburo of 12 December 1979 in strict confidence - there are no protocols are not carried.

It is believed that the Soviet troops crossed the border on Dec. 29, 1979. This is the official version. In fact, the "H" was determined on 25 December at 15. 00. It was then in Afghanistan has entered a separate reconnaissance battalion 108 th Motorized Division. At the same time, transport aircraft 103rd Airborne division personnel and equipment landed at Kabul airport.

And only 2 January, 1980 Politburo formally approved the intervention, adopting the "number of limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan" - fifty thousand in addition to the group of two thousand KGB. At the same meeting, the Politburo decided to exile in Gorky Academician Sakharov, who started against the Afghan adventure . . .

December 27, 1979 President, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, the chief of all the Afghan people Hafizullah Amin invites you to dinner in a luxurious palace in the late prospect of Dar-ul-Aman entire revolutionary establishment - members of the Politburo and the ministers with their wives. Reason to collect them - the return of the Moscow Central Committee Secretary NDPA Panjsher.

Two weeks before the dinner arrived in Kabul two groups of Special Forces KGB - "Thunder" and "Zenith". And on the morning of December 17, "Muslim" battalion took up positions around the presidential palace Taj-Bek. The Afghan guards joyfully welcomed the reinforcements arrived and gave everyone blanket of camel′s hair - the night stood 30 degrees below zero.

Amin Palace was turned into a forbidding castle: the building stood on a high Bugrov, it was only one narrow serpentine road to the same all the slopes have been mined, and buried at the perimeter of the tank, three . . .

Immediately the palace guard company of the personal protection of Amin. There were 120 people, and they are mostly the relatives of the President, or specially dedicated to him by people. It was the elite unit of the Afghan army commandos on the scheme.

In addition, around the palace was still one team guards, led by Chief poruchenets Amin Major Dzhandat. The team consisted of three infantry battalions, a tank battalion, machine gun and mortar companies, hozchasti, car platoon. Yes another anti-aircraft regiment, who was armed with eight stomillimetrovymi our man-portable air guns, twelve coupled Portable anti-aircraft guns. Total protection of up to two thousand people. Our "Muslim" battalion was to be the third ring of security.

"A plan of this [storming the palace], I was told to develop for two days," - says the commander of "Muslim Battalion" Vasily Kolesnyk. - And instead of the protection plan the seizure of the palace and the nine major sites. I just said it was unrealistic.

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

Senior Adviser from the KGB, General Boris Ivanov and the chief military adviser, General Sultan Magomedov put this challenge to me and still an adviser to the Embassy of Colonel Pupysheva. The day had already reported: Pupyshev, as it was told to simply redeployed personnel to all sites. I said that it was not only people do not give, but you will need to gain, because it is impossible to put two thousand of our 500. Yes the same for such a facility, the approaches that are mined. "

At six pm Kolesnyk reported that he had approved the operation lead capture. Kolesnyk contacted the Chief of General Staff Ogarkovym, who also explained that the required assistance. Made in this regard shifrogrammu and sent to Moscow. A few hours later at his disposal company came VDV and platoon armed with anti-drone (ATGM).

Directly to the training operation first company under the command of Senior Lieutenant V. Sharipov was to help groups "Thunder" and "Zenith" - to pick up to the palace. The second and third group of companies and sent to help the paratroopers under the command of Senior Lieutenant Vostrotina had to block the safety of Afghans.

To arouse the vigilance of Afghans, the Soviet battalion has been conducting exercises at night: fire exits on the alert, launch flares. Night frosts were so consistently for warming Motors APCs.

On the first day of Afghans frighten. Location of Soviet battalion immediately lit spotlights, arrived the chief protection of the president. He explained: a normal combat training - a battalion in constant alert to prevent surprise attacks Mujahideen. Afghans are accustomed to, and then calmed down. Only strongly requested not to make noise so as not to interfere with sleep Amin.

Dinner at the palace was in a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere, warm tone asked the owner.

But when the guests moved into the hall, where tables were covered with tea, almost all of a sudden feel bad: they are too strong for the abominable drowsiness, and they fell into a chair and just turned off.

A strange disease suddenly struck all but Panjsher. Amin barely keep one′s legs. For dinner eat little - it is so easy and an upset stomach. In addition, he has no trust; water, for example, drank only from the different vessels in small portions: afraid - poison. Night sleeping in different places, sometimes even in the tank.

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

Seeing the light, reeling master, security has become a call . . . in the Soviet Embassy and the military hospital - to request assistance. Products sent for examination, a cook-Uzbeks detained.

Soon, the palace came a group of Soviet doctors, unaware of the conceived attack. In the vast halls and stair treads a lot of people were lying or sitting in unnatural positions. Most unconscious, those that came to himself, korchatsya pain. Doctors soon determined the mass poisoning and began to provide emergency assistance. But then ran the Afghan physician and took them to the President: a very bad.

Soviet doctors started to treat an active chapter of friendly states. Only about 6 pm, Amin began to rebound. "Why did this happen in my dome9 Who did it? Accident or sabotage? "- He murmured.

But the answer to these questions has not been able to protect him. There was instructed to put additional staff and cause the tank brigade. But it was too late: by Soviet paratroopers in Kabul is already firmly blocked the Afghan army.

Around the same time in the Soviet Embassy became aware that the plan to poison Amin failed and must start a military operation. Chief Military Adviser, General-Colonel Muhammad came to us with the commander of "Muslim" battalion and ordered the assault as soon as possible.

After 15-20 minutes the seizure group, led by captain Satarova blocking the tanks, sweep the road to the palace. The sky over Kabul highlighted by two red flares - a signal to the statement by the KGB spetsgrupp and "Muslim" battalion. At the palace immediately surge of artillery fire - the storming began.

The most strange that, until the last minute Amin believed that the palace storm Mujahideen, not the Soviet friends. But when he heard the shooting, he got up out of bed and went out into the corridor. Soviet doctors saw with horror: meet them is the president of T-shirt and white shorts, holding hands in the straddling of the bottles with droppers fizrastvorom . . . One of the doctors rushed to him, pulled out the needle from the vein.

The President sat on a wall, but there was a wailing child, and where some of the side rooms ran malchonka - son of Amin. Having seen his father, rushed to him, Amin embraced him and told Adjutant immediately call the Soviet Embassy and to warn of Soviet military attack on the palace.

Photo — «Conspiracy Against Amina»

And his adjutant: Soviet troops are attacking . . .

"Vresh! There can byt1 "- Amin and starts shouting at him an ashtray.

Sam tries to call the Chief of General Staff - the relationship is not working. But in the corridors, all clearly spread Russian Math. Then Amin quietly says: "I knew about it, all right. " This, apparently, his last words. Five people from the KGB spetsgruppy "Thunder" burst into the room and have a line of machines. In exchange Amin was killed. One of the participants in the operation and then says: ". . . The man who shot and killed Amin, told me that the order was not taken alive Amin. By the way, then in the crossfire was wounded in the chest and died son of Amin. I tie their own hands wound his daughter - her shot in the leg. We left the palace, in which carpets were soaked in blood and squelch underfoot. "

Amin′s body wrapped in a carpet and carried away.

. . . All of the soldiers surrendered aminovskoy protection, but with small groups of other "musbat continued to fight another day, yet no one survived fled to the mountains. Overall, it was captured around 1700 Afghans and another 400 are lost. While on our side were killed ten people, among whom was the commander of "Alpha" Colonel Boyar.

On the same evening, Kabul Radio reported that Babrak Karmal was headed by the Government of Afghanistan and asked the Soviet military assistance. The next day, "Pravda" published his "Appeal to the people, causing a complete surprise at the Soviet readers - they drew information from Soviet newspapers, which always said that in Afghanistan all in stride. Now in treatment alleged something back. "After the brutal pain and anguish the day of freedom and rebirth of all the fraternal people of Afghanistan. Today, broken machine of torture of Amin and his associates - Wild executioners, usurpers and murderers . . . Destroyed bastions of despotism, the bloody dynasty Amin and his supporters - those mercenaries world imperialism headed by U. S. imperialism. "

This was the beginning of this bloody and senseless war. Very soon, Brezhnev began grumbling at war - could not have done as it should be. - And dosadoval: - That the hell is vlipli in history! "