2001/09/01 by Lester W. Grau, Ali A. Jalali · 39 citations
Social Sciences · Medicine · #Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East #Military History and Strategy #Intelligence, Security, War Strategy #Cripple #Afghan #Legitimacy #Communism #Political science #Citizen journalism #Resistance (ecology) #Ancient history #Terrain #Political economy #History #Law #Geography #Cartography #Sociology #Politics #Medicine
paper · doi:10.1080/13518040108430488
published in The Journal of Slavic Military Studies 14(3), 69-92 (Routledge)
openalex publication_date 2001/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The battles for Zhawar were fought to cripple guerrilla logistics, but evolved into tests of the legitimacy of the Afghan communist regime and the Mujahideen resistance. The battles exposed serious deficiencies on both sides as the guerrillas conducted a fixed, positional defense and the Soviets and Afghans attempted a major mechanized assault more in keeping with European terrain than the rugged mountainous terrain around Zhawar.