Soviets Reportedly Open Heavy Attack on Afghan Guerrillas

Thousands of Soviet commandos and paratroopers backed by waves of jets and helicopter gunships on Wednesday attacked Muslim guerrilla bases in eastern Afghanistan close to the Pakistani border, sources said.

The major offensive came despite a cease-fire called last month by the Communist government of Afghanistan, which is backed by an estimated 115,000 Soviet troops. Guerrilla leaders rejected the cease-fire, and Western sources said Tuesday that it had collapsed.

Guerrilla officials and other sources said a division-size force of about 12,000 Soviet and Afghan troops attacked guerrilla positions around Zhawar in Paktia province, about 20 miles from the Pakistani border.

Soviet forces also attacked guerrilla bases in the Gagi area of Paktia province, and a large Soviet force reportedly was massing in adjoining Nangarhar province.

Mines Placed by Rebels

Guerrilla fighters had planted thousands of anti-personnel mines to hold off attacking troops, and at least six Afghan soldiers were killed in mine explosions, the guerrilla officials said.

About 2,000 guerrillas were under attack in and around Zhawar, and several hundred more fought in the Gagi area, the officials said. Guerrilla reinforcements were trying to get through, they said.

The Afghan Information Center, which monitors events in Afghanistan from the Pakistani border city of Peshawar, confirmed the guerrilla reports.

“The fighting is very severe. The guerrillas are coming under heavy attack. The situation is serious,” center director Sayed Majrooh said.

Majrooh said a second Soviet force of about 6,000 soldiers was building up close to the Pakistani border in Nangarhar province and appeared to be preparing for an attack on guerrilla supply routes.

Planes Ferry Troops

Guerrilla officials said that scores of Soviet and Afghan transport planes were ferrying troops and supplies into the government’s main base at Khost in Paktia, and they feared that the attack would be expanded.

The Afghan government rarely allows Western journalists into Afghanistan. Reports from inside the country often cannot be checked independently.

Zhawar, a sprawling underground guerrilla base, was captured by Soviet forces after heavy fighting last April. The Soviet troops later pulled back, and the guerrillas have since attempted to reconstruct the facility.

The Afghan government declared a unilateral cease-fire Jan. 15 as part of its call for national reconciliation to end the war but made clear it would not surrender power. The government warned it would retaliate against any guerrilla attacks.