Soviets Reported Destroying Towns on Afghan Border

The Soviets have launched military operations to wipe out settlements in northern Afghanistan near their border in retaliation for Muslim rebel attacks on Soviet territory, a Western diplomat said Tuesday.

The diplomat, speaking on the condition he not be identified, also reported heavy fighting last week in at least four other provinces.

The information could not be verified independently.

The diplomat quoted a source in Kabul as saying Soviet troops were pressing extensive operations in two provinces bordering the Soviet Union in retaliation for attacks last month by Afghan rebels against targets on Soviet territory.

“Soviet military operations in Kunduz and Takhar provinces have continued and now amount to an effort to depopulate areas near the Soviet border,” he said but provided no further details.

Western diplomats have previously reported that the Soviet reprisals included heavy bombing by aircraft and that they had caused “a significant loss of civilian life and property.”

According to Western diplomats and Afghan rebel groups, Soviet forces have used similar tactics to depopulate other areas of Afghanistan in order to deprive the guerrillas of local support.