Nation: How the Soviet Army Crushed Afghanistan

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Fighting the Soviet military machine is a disorganized and leaderless army of insurgents known as mujahidin. They are believed to number 15,000 to 20,000 in summer and as many as 60,000 in winter. Says a U.S. expert: "Winter is the killing season, when there is nothing to do but go out and shoot." The tribes are hopelessly disunited and fight constantly among themselves. But for the most part they dislike central authority, they distrust foreigners—particularly Russians —and they have fought with rising fervor against the Kabul government ever since the Soviet-backed regime of President Taraki came to power in April 1978.

The rebels were doing well until the Soviet takeover. They had virtually surrounded Kabul and controlled as many as 22 of the country's 28 provinces. Not even armored-car escorts could ensure safe passage for trucks on the highway between Kabul and Kandahar. As a result of the disruption of the transportation system, prices of essential commodities soared in Kabul—rice by 100%, firewood by 500%, and diesel fuel was nearly unobtainable.

Now, at least for the moment, the insurgents are on the run. Dozens of Afghan camel caravans crossed the border into Pakistan from Paktia province last week. Explained Alip Jon, 41: "There are too many tanks, and planes are always coming. For every one of us here, two or three are still fighting, but I fear Paktia is done for." Others talked as truculently as ever. Said Gul Amir, 36: "The Russians can't stay in Afghanistan. They are so alien that even the animals hate them."

During the past year of unrest, the number of Afghan refugees camped on the Pakistani side of the border has soared from 13,000 to about 400,000. Last week TIME Correspondent David DeVoss visited the village of Dara Adam Khail, which lies to the south of the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Dara has long been famous for its handmade rifles, mortars and land mines, and the insurgency in Afghanistan has turned the place into a boomtown. Reports DeVoss: "Mud-hut arms factories are busy 24 hours a day. A handcrafted Kalashnikov rifle sells for $1,700. For just under $1,000, Chicago-style tommy guns are a bargain. The preferred weapon is the Enfield; its bullets cost $1 apiece, as compared with $2.20 for a Kalashnikov round. But Dara's craftsmen will produce any weapon requested. A man polishing the barrel of a Sten gun told me: 'We will do all we can to help the Afghan people. At our factory, all mujahidin receive a 20% discount.' "

The Pakistani government of President Mohammed Zia Ul-Haq is tempted to encourage the Afghan tribesmen to fight the Kabul government, with which Pakistan has always had uneasy relations. But the Pushtun (or Pathan) tribesmen, whose homeland is on both sides of the border, also have their differences with Pakistan. So Zia is reluctant to grant the insurgents too much aid lest they use it to fight his government, which has serious problems of its own.