AFGHANISTAN: Tunnel Tragedy

Mystery in the mountains

Kabul is a city in mourning. According to age-old custom, red banners have been flying throughout the capital. The daily 5-min. death notices broadcast by state-owned Radio Kabul have lasted from 15 to 25 min. Since the invasion in 1979, tales of carnage have been as ubiquitous in Kabul as the Soviet army. This time, however, the Afghan capital is reeling from a disaster that perhaps no one intended.

It happened two weeks ago, but because of restrictions on journalists moving about the country, word started trickling out only last week. According to Afghan refugees newly arrived in...