Battle of Arghandab (1987)

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 Kabul. The Soviets contributed the 70th Motorized 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 DRA Government 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.^[1] After some aircraft were shot by mujahideen Stinger missiles, the Soviet helicopter gunships that had provided much of the air support were called off. The Afghan troops found themselves facing entrenched mujahideen, dug into camouflaged bunkers, and their morale suffered accordingly. The government troops often refused to attack, and large numbers defected to the resistance with their weapons.^[1] By the end of June, the offensive ended. The DRA losses were 500 killed and wounded, as well as 1200 defections. The mujahideen had 60 killed defending Chaharqulba, the stronghold of Mullah Naqib, and "many others" in other areas.^[2]

• Urban, Mark (1990). War in Afghanistan. London: Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 0-333-51477-7.
• Jalali, Ali Ahmad; Grau Lester (1989). Afghan Guerrilla Warfare, in the Words of the Mujahideen Fighters. MBI Publishing. pp. 174–195. ISBN 0-7603-1322-9.
• Isby, David (1989). War in a Distant Country, Afghanistan: Invasion and Resistance. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-769-2.
• Cordovez, Diego; Harrison, Selig (1995). Out of Afghanistan: The Inside Story of the Soviet Withdrawal. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-506294-9.