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Battle of Arghandab (1987)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Arghandab was an offensive launched by Afghan government
forces, supported by Soviet
troops against Mujahideen strongholds in the Arghandab District
of Kandahar Province
, Afghanistan
. The operation ended in failure, and the government forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses.
, the Afghan mujahideen had important forces in the Kandahar area. These were affiliated with different parties, and while they cooperated with each other, they were unable to form a unified command. The principal commanders were Mullah Naqib of Jamiat-e Islami
, Lala Malang of Hezb-e Islami Khalis and Abdul
Latif of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan. In early 1987, the mujahideen launched an attack in and around Kandahar. Diversionary raids targeted Soviet and WAD
positions, but the main objective were the defensive outposts manned by pro-government militias defending the city. These were the Jowzjani Uzbek
militia of Abdul Rashid Dostum
, the Achakzai
militia of Ismatullah Muslim
, and a Baluch
force under Meri Baluchis. The militias suffered heavily in the attack, causing the government to plan a retaliatory offensive against resistance strongholds in the Arghandab district.
. The Soviets contributed the 70th motorised Rifle brigade and air units, but the bulk of the force was composed of Afghan forces, and the Soviet role was limited to support missions. The communist regime sent its defense minister and interior minister to oversee the operation.
The terrain of Arghandab district presented several difficulties for an attacking force. Situated in a lush agricultural area along the Arghandab river
, it is crossed by many deep irrigation
ditches which limit and channelize the movement of armoured vehicles, as well as providing cover for the defenders.
The offensive began on May 22, supported by massive artillery and aviation strikes. After some aircraft were shot by mujahideen stinger missile
s, the Soviet helicopter gunships which had provided much of the air support were called off. The Afghan troops found themselves facing entrenched mujahideen, dug in to camouflaged bunkers, and their morale suffered accordingly. The government troops often refused to attack, and large numbers defected to the resistance with their weapons. By the end of June the offensive ended. The DRA losses were 500 killed and wounded, as well as 1200 defections. The mujahideen lost 60 killed defending Chaharqulba, the stronghold of Mullah Naqib, and "many others" in other areas.
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
forces, supported by Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
troops against Mujahideen strongholds in the Arghandab District
Arghandab District
Arghandab is a district in the central part of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. It borders Panjwai and Khakrez districts to the west, Shah Wali Kot District to the north and east and Kandahar District to the east and south....
of Kandahar Province
Kandahar Province
Kandahar or Qandahar is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The operation ended in failure, and the government forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses.
Prelude
During the Soviet war in AfghanistanSoviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, the Afghan mujahideen had important forces in the Kandahar area. These were affiliated with different parties, and while they cooperated with each other, they were unable to form a unified command. The principal commanders were Mullah Naqib of Jamiat-e Islami
Jamiat-e Islami
Jamiat-e Islami , is an Islamic political party in Afghanistan along the line of the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. Jamiat-e Islami means "Islamic society" in the Persian language and is also known as just Jamiat for short. Jamiat is the oldest Islamic political party in Afghanistan...
, Lala Malang of Hezb-e Islami Khalis and Abdul
Latif of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan. In early 1987, the mujahideen launched an attack in and around Kandahar. Diversionary raids targeted Soviet and WAD
KHAD
Khadamat-e Etela'at-e Dawlati translates directly to English as: "Government Information Agency". However, this phrase is more correctly translated as Government Intelligence Service...
positions, but the main objective were the defensive outposts manned by pro-government militias defending the city. These were the Jowzjani Uzbek
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
militia of Abdul Rashid Dostum
Abdul Rashid Dostum
Abdul Rashid Dostum is a former pro-Soviet fighter during the Soviet war in Afghanistan and is considered by many to be the leader of Afghanistan's Uzbek community and the party Junbish-e Milli-yi Islami-yi Afghanistan...
, the Achakzai
Achakzai
Achakzai are Durrani primarily found in southern Afghanistan and northern regions of Balochistan Province, Pakistan.-Demographics:Achakzais of Afghanistan are mainly located in Spin Boldak, Reg, Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan and Herat...
militia of Ismatullah Muslim
Ismatullah Muslim
Ismatullah Muslim, also called Ismatullah Achakzai or just Esmat, was an Afghan militia leader, who in 1979 joined the mujahideen opposed to the communist PDPA and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, before coming over to the side of the government in 1984...
, and a Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
force under Meri Baluchis. The militias suffered heavily in the attack, causing the government to plan a retaliatory offensive against resistance strongholds in the Arghandab district.
The battle
The Soviet-Afghan force that was organised for the circumstance was composed of 6,000 men drawn from the 15th Division and the 7th tank brigade, stationed near Kandahar, with reinforcements from the 14th and 17th Divisions, and from local militias and troops brought in from KabulKabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. The Soviets contributed the 70th motorised Rifle brigade and air units, but the bulk of the force was composed of Afghan forces, and the Soviet role was limited to support missions. The communist regime sent its defense minister and interior minister to oversee the operation.
The terrain of Arghandab district presented several difficulties for an attacking force. Situated in a lush agricultural area along the Arghandab river
Arghandab River
Arghandab is a river in Afghanistan, about in length. It rises in the Hazarajat country north-west of Ghazni, and flows south-west falls into the Helmand below Girishk. In its lower course it is much used for irrigation, and the valley is cultivated and populous; yet the water is said to be...
, it is crossed by many deep irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
ditches which limit and channelize the movement of armoured vehicles, as well as providing cover for the defenders.
The offensive began on May 22, supported by massive artillery and aviation strikes. After some aircraft were shot by mujahideen stinger missile
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
s, the Soviet helicopter gunships which had provided much of the air support were called off. The Afghan troops found themselves facing entrenched mujahideen, dug in to camouflaged bunkers, and their morale suffered accordingly. The government troops often refused to attack, and large numbers defected to the resistance with their weapons. By the end of June the offensive ended. The DRA losses were 500 killed and wounded, as well as 1200 defections. The mujahideen lost 60 killed defending Chaharqulba, the stronghold of Mullah Naqib, and "many others" in other areas.