Afghan Villages Raided in Retaliation for Rebel Attacks on Soviet Territory

Soviet jets bombed and machine-gunned villages in northern Afghanistan in revenge for a guerrilla attack on Soviet territory, and troops blocked roads to prevent civilians from escaping, sources said Tuesday.

Western diplomatic sources, speaking on condition they not be identified further, said Soviet air and ground attacks caused massive destruction in northern Afghanistan’s Kunduz and Takhar provinces next to the Soviet border in the first week of April.

Soviet soldiers surrounded several villages in Takhar province and blocked roads to prevent villagers from escaping before the jet attacks, the sources said. Civilian casualties were high, but no overall figures were available, they said.

Afghan guerrilla officials have also reported massive Soviet attacks in northern Afghanistan in retaliation for a March 9 guerrilla rocket attack against a Soviet border settlement. Several people were killed in the guerrilla attack, which the Soviet press confirmed.

Reprisal attacks were continuing well into April, indicating a major Soviet attempt to suppress guerrilla activity near the border and curb any Afghan civilian support for the insurgents, guerrilla and diplomatic sources said.

Rebel forces fought back in some areas and shot down one plane in Takhar province in March, the sources said. The insurgents reportedly killed 20 government soldiers while losing seven men.