European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse 6-year War against soviet backed regime show of strength by afghan rebels. Afghan guerrillas an the March. New yer a time photo by Barry Renfrew associated press hidden in a sprawling Complex of Man made caverns guerrillas lighting to topple Afghanistan s soviet backed government have built a military base that has everything rom bomb shelters Tor inks to a subterranean Hospital and a mosque. We re building we re going to expand this Center and make it even safer Loi the Mujahideen holy warriors said the commander. Bakhle Jan Jaber As he Sal in his Garden watching men working on their hulking tanks the Roa of the engines drowned out the base Loudspeaker system summoning the Garrison to evening prayers. This is he Only place like i in Afghanistan said a guerrilla officer. The base is concealed in a narrow Valley in Shawar in Southern Afghanistan s Pahia province about 20 Miles from the pakistani Border. Llytle of the mile Long Complex of caverns Cut in of the Shew Valley Walls can be seen from the air. The base is ringed by Lort plications and defended by tanks and artillery anti aircraft batteries guard the surrounding Mounta mops. During the Day Shawar rings with sounds from the workshops where trucks and tanks Are repaired and heavy weapons sen iced. Guerrilla who hid been lighting for years with world War la Era rifles were learning to operate tanks and heavy Art Folery. After years of living in Mountain hideouts Ofifi Short of weapons ammunition and food Many fighters seemed slightly startled by the installations they were building on the Wall of he base Headquarters is a Green Slone outline map of Afghanistan this is Afghanistan this is our country. Vis love it a guerrilla commented softly. The base is a remarkable show of strength by the islamic guerillas lighting Afghanistan seem Munsil government and an estimated 115,000 soviet troops that support ii. The Lacomy is also a sign of me increased Covert flow of arms and Mon a reportedly reaching the guerrillas from the United Lila Les China saudi Arabia and other nations. The base commander Jaber. Wore a Bullet studded Bandolier across his Chest a Pisio a d Dagger a his Side and a Large White turban on his head. Aides hovered behind him. Stacked Nearh were the carcasses of soviet helicopters f a Mig jets shot Down in recent attacks on the guerri1 j base. The commander admitted any Guerra fats still have smoke and flames Rise from burning vehicle photo at left01 guerrilla searches body of afghan Soldier after an attack on a joint soviet afghan Convoy in Volley recently. Rebel fighters photo at tight lunch by \ a soviet helicopter shot Down during an attack last year at Juriston. Page 14 the e stars and stripes barely enough to tight with but said Shawar is a slur things to come when the have for equalling those of the communists. The base is can by the Yuls Khalis one of the moslem guerrillas1 a Manf Allons. Disagreements among the fast for weakened their fighting ability and although Guerti the base said hey cooperate with other factions ii impossible to determine in hey use the facilities. Scores of construction workers had been stick Day with picks and shovels building new Cavern reinforcing them with Concrete Walls and steel & one to foot High chamber was being Bull Asl shelter for tanks. Thick Stone and Brick Walla inc construe Ted in Iione of he enhances to is Mora important workshops As Shields against bombs bomb craters pocked the Valley floor and Fierri they had been raided Severa times during lha Sii by soviet and afghan warplanes. The sides of the Cliffs Wero honeycombed wed Chambers and shelters with firing ranges and All training facilities Laid out in the Valley. The of ant consisted of about 200 guerrillas and about 60 technicians and medical workers guerrilla offic u. Alam Jan and the guerrilla of his tar it were to eng along with some afghan army l5 on two soviet made t-54 tanks. Jan a Short sturdy Man trained in the afghan armoured corps before the communists took a 1978, said he had 10 tanks which had been Cap intact from Soviel and afghan forces at Zysh several nearby bases. Three tanks were seen Al and to others a another base Shawar is in a major combat zone about 12 the Fown of Khost where heavy fighting waa golnfl1- the tanks Are used for hit and run attacks on saturday,1
