Peshawar is the capital of Pakistan's Western Frontier Province. It is also called "Pulushapuro". It is located on the west bank of the Bara River, a tributary of the Kabul River in the northwest, and east of the Khyber Pass. The geographical location here is special. Since ancient times, it has been a trade channel between Central Asia and South Asia.
"Peshawar" means "City of Flowers" in ancient Sanskrit. It is a beautiful city. Unfortunately, it has lost its original appearance.
After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, countless Afghan refugees poured into Pakistan across the border. As the nearest city, Peshawar was full of Afghan refugees. At this time, Pakistan opened its arms and accommodated all the refugees. At the same time, it also became a base for resistance against the Soviet invasion.
These refugees have lost their homes and harbor deep hatred for the Soviet Union. If some of them are selected and trained, they will become staunch fighters. The Americans are willing to do so. Now, the CIA's main mission is in Peshawar.
At the same time, some Afghan politicians were discussing how to counterattack and defeat the Soviets.
It was already late at night when Muhammad crossed the rugged mountain road and returned to Peshawar. Sitting in a military jeep, when Muhammad returned to the military headquarters in Peshawar, he originally planned to take a nap on a chair outside and report after dawn.
However, when Muhammad arrived at the military headquarters, the chief of staff was already waiting for him. When Muhammad reported his identity at the sentry post outside, the chief of staff had already woken up.
"Mhammad, welcome back. My name is Mushaaf, the new chief of staff." Mushaaf said to Muhammad, "We sent 20 instructors this time, and you are the last one to come back."
Mushaaf? Muhammad looked at the new chief of staff of the Peshawar Military Region and felt that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember exactly who he was.
"Some time ago, the Soviets suffered a heavy blow. All twelve Hinds at the helicopter base were destroyed." Mushaaf said, "Mhammad, you did a great job."
No wonder they were so hospitable to me. It turned out that they knew my military achievements! Muhammad said, "Your Excellency Chief of Staff, these are all the credits of the Afghan guerrillas. I just took them with me."
"Mhammad, you are the best among all the instructors." Mushaaf said, "You have been promoted to first-class warrant officer."
First class warrant officer? Muhammad couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. The Pakistani soldier he traveled through was just an ordinary soldier.
Before entering Afghanistan, he was only a sergeant major. Now, he was promoted directly to first-class warrant officer, skipping the rank of warrant officer, which is just the rank of an instructor.
"You will enter the Jalozai refugee camp and help train qualified fighters there," Mushaaf said. "This is the need to fight against the Soviet invaders and also the need of Afghanistan."
Will he go to the Jeroza refugee camp? Select fighters from there and train guerrillas? No! Muhammad heard what Mushaaf said and immediately rejected this mission in his heart.
"Report, I am not coming back to report, I am coming to ask for help." Muhammad said: "The Afghan guerrillas need me, I will continue to return to Afghanistan and fight side by side with the guerrillas there. This time I came back to ask for support of weapons."
Mushaaf had already taken out the appointment letter from the table. When he heard what Muhammad said, he was stunned: "First Class Warrant Officer Muhammad, you are requesting to return to Afghanistan again?"
Going to Afghanistan is very dangerous and you may face death at any time. This is the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan is only forced to do so. Moreover, Pakistan does not have a clear need to fight across the border. Although the troops hate the Soviets very much, they do not want to go to Afghanistan to fight. After all, war means sacrifice.
Muhammad in front of him was actually willing to go back and fight again!
"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, the Afghan guerrillas are not well trained and their tactical level is not high. If I don't go back, I'm afraid they will be strangled by the Soviets. The fighters trained in the refugee camps are far inferior to the local guerrillas who have already taken up arms." Muhammad said, "I want to fight with them until the Soviet invaders are driven away!"
Mushaf was moved. He put down the appointment letter and said, "Mhammad, are you not afraid of sacrifice?"
"I'm afraid." Muhammad said, "The Soviets invaded Afghanistan to gain access to the south and suppress our country. If the Soviets completely control Afghanistan, our country will never have peace. Now, helping Afghanistan is helping our country. As a soldier, I have no regrets."
This soldier is no ordinary soldier. He has profound political attainments and can see through the interests involved at a glance. Moreover, he is very frank. No one is not afraid of death. Such a soldier is very consistent with Mushaaf's temperament.
"Now, you are a second lieutenant," Mushaaf said. "I will ask Islamabad to grant you the rank of second lieutenant. Tell me, what weapons do you need?"
Facing such a brave warrior, Mushaaf admired him very much and promoted him to second lieutenant, skipping the senior warrant officer. This was also a comfort, after all, he could become a martyr at any time.
Muhammad was not excited about this military rank. He had already put his career in Afghanistan. He looked at Mushaf steadily and said, "Your Excellency Chief of Staff, I need Stinger portable air defense missiles and TOW anti-tank missiles."
Hearing Muhammad's words, Mushaaf was visibly stunned: "What? Stinger anti-aircraft missiles?"
Mushaf had not heard of it, and neither had any Pakistani soldier. At that time, the Stinger air defense missile had just entered service in the US military.
In 1971, the U.S. Army selected the "Redeye II" as the future portable air defense missile, model FIM-92. In March 1972, the "Redeye II" was named "Stinger", the second generation of portable air defense missiles in the United States. After that, after several years of technical problems, it was not until 1976 that all technical problems were overcome. In 1978, General Motors was approved for production. It was not until this year that the first U.S. unit equipped with this air defense missile had combat capability.
In later history, it was not until 1986 that the Afghan guerrillas obtained a large number of this effective anti-aircraft missile to deal with the Soviet armed helicopters. Most of the losses of the Hind began from that time.
Now, facing the huge threat of the Soviet Hind, Muhammad urgently needs this weapon and he can't wait.
Americans are very generous to Afghanistan now. In order to fight the Soviet Union, they provide completely free aid, giving Afghanistan whatever it wants. Later, when Americans entered Afghanistan, they found that the biggest threat they faced was the weapons they had provided to Afghanistan. This is a naked irony.
"Yes, that's right, Mr. Chief of Staff. With these weapons, the Afghan guerrillas will have a chance to breathe. The Soviet Hind has been hovering over our heads, and we have always been at a disadvantage," said Muhammad.
"I will convey this to the US," Mushaaf said. "Mhammad, this matter may need the approval of the top leaders of the US, so we have to wait a few more days."
After leaving the military, Muhammad was still thinking, he had forgotten the history of the Stinger. It was still early. Would the Americans give it to him? I'm afraid it would be difficult. In this case, what would he take back? He would have to continue the hard battle with nothing in his hands.
The Americans must agree! Even if he had to write a letter to the President of the United States! Muhammad was determined.
The sky was getting light in the east and people were swarming on the streets of Peshawar.
Although there is no official statistics, at least 100,000 Afghan refugees have entered Peshawar. Although they are placed in refugee camps, water and food alone are not enough.
So, when the sky just got light, these refugees poured into the streets, hoping to find a job. Looking at those ragged men, Muhammad felt hurt in his heart. Politicians launched wars for their own interests, and the real victims were these ordinary civilians.
They watched Muhammad walk by, and although he didn't look like he was looking for a job, they still looked at him with longing eyes.
Muhammad had no choice but to lower his head, not daring to look into the eyes of these people, and hurried past. The army's guesthouse was two blocks away, so he stayed there temporarily.
She was wearing a blue suspender, a white cape on the outside, tight jeans underneath, and high heels. It was a completely Western outfit. But from the upper body, with her long hair, deep-set eyes, and high nose bridge, she had the face of a Central Asian girl. She was a real local.
She was carrying a handbag, which swayed back and forth as she walked. She was walking in a hurry to get to the bus stop on the street to catch the early bus.
After passing by a group of Afghans, an Afghan man stood up and slowly followed them.
The girl didn't notice, she was still running, and the bus was about to arrive.
Her steps became faster, and her high heels scraped against the ground, making a clicking sound.
Suddenly, her grip loosened and the handbag flew out of her hand. When she looked again, she saw an Afghan man who had snatched her bag and was running away.
"Help! Someone is stealing my bag!" the girl shouted loudly. She was very anxious and chased after the man. But after running a few steps, her foot slipped and her ankle was twisted.
Just as the bag snatcher was about to disappear around the corner, a burly man blocked the corner.