The World : Afghan Aid Proliferating

Secret CIA aid to Afghan rebels fighting Soviet forces has become the largest U.S. covert-assistance program since the Vietnam War, the Washington Post quoted informed sources as saying. Congress has nearly tripled the Reagan Administration’s initial request for aid to the guerrillas, to about $250 million for the fiscal year that began in October, 1984. This would amount to more than 80% of annual CIA expenditures for covert operations, the sources said. They cited discussions to the effect that the insurgents could use a total of $600 million in aid from the United States and other countries in the next fiscal year.