Soviet Suspends Pullout of Troops From Afghanistan : U.S.-Armed Insurgents Are Blamed

The Soviet Union today said it has suspended military withdrawal from Afghanistan and has sent in sophisticated weapons because of unrelenting pressure from Muslim guerrillas.

Witnesses have reported MIG-27 ground-attack jets and SS-1 Scud missiles in Afghanistan.

Alexander Bessmertnykh, first deputy foreign minister, repeated Soviet accusations that the United States and Pakistan are violating the withdrawal agreement by sending a constant flow of arms to the insurgents.

“The Soviet troops are being withdrawn due to the good will of the Soviet government,” Bessmertnykh told a news briefing. “They will be withdrawn in honorable conditions.”

Bomb, Rocket Attacks Cited

He said an atmosphere of bombing, mortar and rocket attacks on civilians, government soldiers and the departing Soviet forces “does not provide the conditions for such a withdrawal of Soviet troops,” and said, “The withdrawal of the troops is being suspended.”

His comments reflected Soviet frustration over how the Afghan army has handled the fight in the nearly three months since the Red Army reached the halfway point in withdrawing its estimated 115,000 men.

Bessmertnykh also appeared to indicate that the withdrawal might not be completed by the Feb. 15 deadline set in the April 14 Geneva agreement mediated by the United Nations. The withdrawal began May 15.

While reiterating Soviet commitment to the agreement, he said, “If none of the countries violate the accords, they would be fulfilled by the Soviet Union.”

More Tension Feared

In Washington, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the Soviet action “can only increase tensions in the region and raise speculation that they aren’t going to live up to the Geneva accords.”

President Reagan, asked about Bessmertnykh’s comments, replied: “I think we are all disappointed by that. At the same time, I think we should recognize that this is something they have said is necessary and they have re-pledged to bring the troops out by Feb. 15.”

Asked whether the United States planned steps in response, he said, “We haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk it over.”

Half the Soviet forces were withdrawn by Aug. 15 under terms of the Geneva agreement signed by Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Soviet Union and United States. The insurgents were not parties to the negotiations and continued the war.

Guerrilla Fighting

Muslim guerrillas began fighting after a communist coup in April, 1978, and Soviet military forces entered the country in December, 1979.

Soviet generals say more than 13,000 of their soldiers were killed and 35,000 wounded.

A pause in the Soviet withdrawal has been evident since Aug. 15, so the immediate effect of Bessmertnykh’s announcement is not clear. A senior Reagan Administration official said privately in Washington that the Soviets had discussed renewing the pullout Nov. 15.

Bessmertnykh said today, “What is important is not the date at which the withdrawal will be continued, but when it will be completed.”

He said the insurgents get a steady “flow of armaments of U.S. and other origins” in violation of provisions in the Geneva agreement against non-interference in Afghan affairs.

New troops are being rotated into Afghanistan with more sophisticated arms and “the Soviet Union is now delivering to the military forces of Afghanistan additional and more powerful means of destruction,” he said.