Pravda Praises Returning Troops for ‘Noble’ Mission

The Soviet Union marked the start of its pullout from Afghanistan on Sunday with a message of congratulations to its retreating army and poignant newspaper stories about families awaiting the return of their sons.

On their front pages Sunday, Pravda and other national newspapers printed a message from the ruling Politburo praising Soviet troops for fulfilling their “fair and noble” mission in Afghanistan.

“Days of severe trials lie behind you,” said the message from the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

“Your profound faith in the noble cause of assistance to a friendly people strengthened you during those trials,” it said. “You have fulfilled the order of your homeland.

“Your energies are needed today for perestroika (reorganization), for the cause of renovating socialism and for the protection of this achievement,” it told the soldiers.

No Casualty Figures

Although the Central Committee statement said the names of Soviet soldiers killed in Afghanistan “will be forever remembered by the people,” casualty figures have never been disclosed.

Along with the message was a joint Soviet-Afghan statement that thanked the Soviet Union for its support during the conflict and blamed the war on the outside interference of Pakistan and the United States.

“The end of this interference remains the key to a peaceful settlement,” it said.

But while Soviet newspapers were publishing the formal withdrawal announcement on their front pages, inside were stories about anxious families eager for the return of their sons, complaints about the problems of rehabilitation and lack of appreciation veterans might find on their return home.