Former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin on the operation of Sergei Shoigu, then Minister of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, in Afghanistan on Kamsamalskaya Pravda Radio
Author: Alexander Gamov
- Sergei Vedimovich, what was the origin of the story related to the rescue of Afghan President Najibullah, which information has already been leaked to the press?
- Well, we remember. In addition, I have an explanation - about how everything happened at that time.
Najib (we often called him so) was a powerful president. Incidentally, he was a Pashtun. In the Soviet Union, he was persuaded for a long time to lead Afghanistan. Najib did not really want that at the time, because he realized what was threatening him because the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was taking place. But Najib ruled Afghanistan for three years.
In 1992, with the occupation of Kabul by the Mojahedin, our embassy was evacuated. Sergei Kozhugutovich Shoigu was the Minister of Emergency Situations and there was indeed a state of emergency in Afghanistan.
- Was evacuating the embassy one of Sergei Shoigu's duties?
- Many people think that the Ministry of Emergency Situations was engaged only in extinguishing fires and clearing debris after earthquakes. Not at all. Sergey Kuzhugetuvich then participated in all complex operations, including those related to the Ossetian-Ingush conflict (in parts of saving people, preventing human casualties). He was in Tajikistan too...
Shoigu, by the way, fought in Chechnya in 1994. And in 1992, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as the most mobile part of the power structures, evacuated the Russian embassy in Kabul on its planes. And they were ready to take Najibullah. But - he missed the flight... And it was impossible to wait for him.
Incidentally, I slipped somewhere, which I said in an interview, Najib was killed two years later. Najib died after four years. He was hidden in the UN office in Kabul, but in 1996 it was defeated by the Taliban - the current leaders of Afghanistan. And Najib was brutally killed along with his brother.
- That means it was managed to evacuate him in 1992... It was at the end of the year, right?
- It was September 1992.
- And what position did you hold then?
- I was the chairman of the Committee of the Defense and Security of the Supreme Council of Russia.
- And were you aware of all these events?
- Yes. By the way, I was directly involved in the appointment of Sergei Shoigu to the post of the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations - this appointment went through our committee in the Supreme Council. We supervised all power structures through the Supreme Council.
- And if Najibullah had been taken out then, he would stay in Russia?
- You know, he had another story. At one time, Masud - the Panjshir lion, who first fought with us, and then the Taliban, offered him to go to the north of Afghanistan. But Najibullah refused. He said: I will stay in Kabul.
Yes, he could strengthen the Northern Alliance. He was a strong personality. Moreover, he is (as I said) a Pashtun - this was very important.
- And yet, if we had taken Najibullah back then, would his fate have been different?
- It's hard to say. At the very least, a person's life would be saved, because he was worthy of it.
- What do you think about the current situation in Afghanistan? What do you think the US “victorious flee” looks like?
- Well, we need to analyze what will happen next.
It is clear that the situation is extremely difficult. We are most concerned about the situation on the border with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Drug trafficking, unorganized armed groups...
Moreover, today many began to praise the Taliban - but in our country, at least, this organization is banned and is considered a terrorist organization. In my opinion, there has not yet been another decision (we are talking about the official position of Russia. - A.G.), so it is difficult for me to comment on anything on this issue.
- Can we do some forecasts?
- Of course... Another thing is that we have already taken measures - we conducted CSTO exercises on the border.
By the way, we also suggested to the NATO members that they should work together with us on this issue, but you see, they ignored it and showed their complete disability. Absolute disability.
The Americans themselves, Merkel, Macron, and everyone accept this. And all the "great NATO".
