U.S. Decries Soviet Air Attacks in Afghanistan : Calls Bombing an ‘Unacceptable’ Violation of Pledge of No Offensive Moves During Pullout

The U.S. government said Tuesday that the Soviet Union is conducting daily bombing attacks in Afghanistan, an “unacceptable” violation of Moscow’s promise not to engage in offensive military operations during its troop withdrawal.

State Department spokesman Charles Redman said Soviet warplanes, based both in Afghanistan and across the border in the Soviet Union, are bombing targets “around the cities of Kandahar, Jalalabad and Kunduz.” He said there are no Soviet troops still garrisoned around any of the three cities, so the attacks are not required for the safe evacuation of Soviet armed forces.

“This is a clear violation of Soviet assurances to us not to engage in offensive operations during the withdrawal,” Redman said. “This daily bombardment is unacceptable.”

Under the Geneva accords signed last year, the Soviet Union is required to complete the withdrawal of its forces by Feb. 15.

Urges Americans to Leave

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater urged all Americans, except employees of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, to leave Afghanistan because of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Moscow radio said the Islamic guerrillas seeking to topple the Soviet-backed government in Kabul have blocked the main road between the Afghan capital and the Soviet border, requiring a Soviet airlift to provide food and other needed supplies to the city.

Kabul is suffering severe food and fuel shortages, news agencies reported. Diplomats in the Afghan capital were quoted as saying people must wait in line for hours for bread and cooking fuel.

“Because of fierce fighting with the extremists in the Salang Pass area, the country’s main highway linking Kabul with . . . the Soviet border is once again paralyzed,” Moscow Radio reported. “The armed opposition is preventing the normal supply of foodstuffs to the city.”

Redman said, however, that the rebels, known as the moujahedeen, have stopped attacking the withdrawing Soviet forces, apparently to eliminate any excuse for Moscow to delay its withdrawal.

“The moujahedeen have been exercising restraint in permitting unhampered Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Redman said. “We believe that similar restraint would be appropriate on the part of the Soviet Union.”

The U.S. government first accused Moscow of conducting air attacks in violation of the Geneva accords late last year. At that time, however, the moujahedeen were engaged in hit-and-run attacks on the withdrawing Soviet troops. Redman raised the issue again Tuesday to underline the American position.

Michael H. Armacost, acting secretary of state, raised the Afghan issue with Soviet Ambassador Yuri V. Dubinin during a meeting at the State Department on Monday.

The Soviet Union has maintained that its operations are in response to attacks by the moujahedeen on the Soviet-backed Kabul regime and, as such, are not prohibited by the Geneva accords.

Kabul Combat Reduced

Western diplomats in Islamabad, Pakistan, quoted by United Press International, confirmed that the rebels are maintaining a low profile to allow the remainder of the Soviet soldiers to leave the country.

The envoys said that combat around Kabul has decreased in recent weeks. However, diplomatic missions in the capital are making plans for a speedy evacuation in case security breaks down after the departure of the Soviet troops.

The West German Embassy closed down last week. A Western diplomat said three Eastern European embassies are also preparing to close.

U.S. Embassy to Stay Open

Redman said the U.S. Embassy will remain open despite the Bush Administration’s warning to American civilians to leave the country.

“Our people have reason for being there,” he said. But he added, “We’re monitoring the situation closely” and could order an evacuation if conditions deteriorate. News agency accounts from Islamabad said Britain and the United States were preparing contingency plans for getting their diplomats out.

The Associated Press reported from Kabul that most Americans and other citizens of Western nations have said they plan to leave the country as soon as possible.