AFGHANISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001100080007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 5, 1959
• Content Type: BRIEF

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5 August 1959.
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I. We are increasingly concerned over developments in Afghanistan.
The Afghans have steadily expanded relations with USSR.
III. Moscow also busy in technical and economic fields. We figure
Soviet Union has now given economic aid totaling $206 million,
including $100 million loan in 1956. (In addition to military)
A. Soviets moving rapidly to begin work on 470-mile road :`g?
from Soviet border through west and south Afghanistan to
Kandahar; 500 Soviet technicians to supervise construction.
Road provided under a new economic and technical agreement
reached in late May. Will take five years to build.
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B. USSR also to build another airport for military and civil use,
possibly in Helmand Valley. They are building two others and
have completed a third.
C. An agreement, just announced last month, provides Soviet aid
in construction three motor-road bridges in eastern province
of Ningrahar, near Pakistani frontier.
D. Soviets have shown speed in finishing projects. (There are
about 1,000-odd Soviet technicians already working in
Afghanistan.)
IV. New Soviet agreements go long way toward meeting demands of
Afghans, who have been seeking only grant aid rather than credits.
A. The grants deviate from Moscow's usual policy of limiting
foreign aid to loans, but are probably intended, in part, to
help counter US grant aid. (US Government and Export-Import
Bank have supplied Afghans with $145 million, mostly grants,
since 1951.)
V. Debt incurred under Soviet credits probably ties up important part
future Afghan exports. USSR now biggest Afghan trading partner.
A. About 40 percent Afghan trade now with Bloc, and nearly all
POL needs supplied by USSR.
B. Afghanistan will remain dependent on USSR for weapons training fo:
some time, and will become increasingly dependent on USSR for
spare parts, ammunition, and fuel as military modernization
progresses.
VI. Afghans believe they must accommodate to powerful Soviet neighbor,
but also believe they can steer neutral and independent course.
A. They hope Moscow will be satisfied by mere Afghan neutrality.
VII. USSR determined to block Western influence in Afghanistan while
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