Soviet Offensive in Afghanistan

The Soviet Union within the past week sent 15,000 more troops plus armored vehicles into Afghanistan and launched an offensive to relieve the beleaguered city of Gardez, Administration sources said today.

The increased activity was reported the day before the Soviets were expected to sign as guarantors of a U.N. agreement on the withdrawal of the Red Army from Afghanistan. At the same time the Soviet troops were sent across the border, Soviet armored units already in Afghanistan moved south from Kabul toward Gardez, said U.S. intelligence sources who have been monitoring the fighting. These units consisted of an undetermined number of soldiers and 420 vehicles, including T-72 tanks, armored personnel carriers and mobile rocket launchers, the sources said.