SOVIETS PUBLISH PARTIAL ACCOUNT OF SALANG DISASTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96R01136R002605130015-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: January 19, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/07: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605130015-7
CIBRIICKHO NESA/Sw 6981 PESHAWAR AND KABUL REPOR PAGE 0001
MSGNO 47 (STXX) *21/01/84* *09:07*
ZCZC 14:05:58Z (ST)
NC 3163811
TOR: 201931Z JAN 84
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
RR RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
UTS3702
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHMO #0714 0191115
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191115Z JAN 84
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4440
INFO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC 6113
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1862
RUSBLK/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1236
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2738
RUEHILP/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0025
BT
EZ1:
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 00714
EZ2:
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: UR, AF, PGOV, PINS
SUBJECT: SOVIETS PUBLISH PARTIAL ACCOUNT OF SALANG
?I I SAS T
REF: 83 KABUL 405
1. (C - ENTIRE TEXT).
2. THE JANUARY 14 EDITION OF KRASNAYA ZVEZDA CONTAINS
THE FIRST PUBLIIC"TVIET ADMISSION THAT WE CAN RECALL
CONCERNING THE SALANG TUNNEL DISASTER (REFTEL). IN AN
ARTICLE BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL ENGINEER V. SYKHODOLSKIY
ABOUT HOW THE TUNNEL IS NOW OPERATING "LIKE CLOCKWORK,"
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/07: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605130015-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/07: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605130015-7
CIBRIICKHO NESA/Sw 6981 PESHAWAR AND KABUL REPORW PAGE 0002
THERE IS AN ACCOUNT OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH TOOK PLACE
"APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO." THE ARTICLE STATES THAT
A TRUCK IN THE TUNNEL "STALLED" AND COULD NOT BE
STARTED AGAIN. TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED, BUT OTHER DRIVERS
KEPT THEIR MOTORS RUNNING, OVERPOWERING THE TUNNEL'S
VENTILATION SYSTEM. "TOXIC FUMES" SPREAD QUICKLY;
"MANY" DRIVERS LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND "SOME" DIED
FROM SUFFOCATION. AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, THE ARTICLE
STATES, THE AFGHANS ASKED THE SOVIETS FOR ASSISTANCE
IN OPERATING THE TUNNEL.
3. ASIDE FROM THIS ACCOUNT, THE ARTICLE CONTAINS TWO
OTHER INTRIGUING ADMISSIONS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE
SALANG TUNNEL IS LITTLE USED AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF
"ROBBERS." THE SECOND IS THAT "BANDITS" HAD AT SOME
POINT ATTEMPTED TO SABOTAGE THE TUNNEL'S OPERATION
BY DRIVING A MINED TRUCK INTO A COLUMN CARRYING
EXPLOSIVES. THIS ATTEMPT, ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE,
DID NOT SUCCEED.
4. COMMENT: THE EMPHASIS OF THE ARTICLE IS ON THE
FOND REMINISCENCES OF THE AUTHOR FOR SALANG AND HOW
THE TUNNEL OPERATES "LIKE CLOCKWORK" (THIS PHRASE IS
REPEATEDLY USED) WITH SOVIET HELP.- PRESUMABLY, THE
PARTIAL ADMISSION OF THE DISASTER (AS WELL AS OTHER
TROUBLES) WAS INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT THE SITUATION WAS NO LONGER WORRISOME TO THE
SOVIETS.
ZIMMERMANN
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/07: CIA-RDP96RO1136R002605130015-7