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neighboring countries. We strive towards
good relations with neighbors, but we are
hindered by the Americans who are trying
to increase tensions by undermining pro-
gressive governments. They have acted thus
against the young Soviet republic in the past,
and are now continuing to act thus against
Cuba, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and South
Yemen. We are resisting these schemes, and
are doing everything to rule the country not
by the force of arms, but by winning the
people’s respect through revolutionary-
democratic reforms in the interest of the
working people. For this we have already
spent 200 bln. afghani. The people can tell
who is their friend and who is their enemy.
Having seen that propaganda against our
government has not found a broad response
from the Afghan people, the spiritual lead-
ers have changed tactics and have begun to
shout that Afghanistan has become pro-So-
viet, pro-communist, that there are now 10
thousand Soviet people in the country who
are bossing everyone around.
To sum up, I would like to say that we
are worried by the possibility of infiltrators
being sent across from Iran and Pakistan,
though, of course, your verbal confrontation
with the leaders of Pakistan and Iran will be
very useful, and will have a sobering effect
on them.
A.N.Kosygin. Some more news. The
Iranian government has issued a directive
ordering all foreign workers to leave the
country by April 21 and for foreign special-
ists to leave by June 21. As for specialists
deemed highly important for the Iranian
economy, their cases will be dealt with on
an individual basis.
N.M.Taraki. This remark most likely
is directed towards the Americans. We have
information that the Iranian government has
already returned to the country American
specialists who have been working there on
helicopter assembly.
A.N.Kosygin. Yes, we have heard
about it as well, but it is possible that we
may have more specialists in Iran than do
the Americans. If there arises the question
of our specialists leaving, then a large met-
allurgical factory as well as other important
enterprises in Iran will be unable to func-
tion. And how many Afghans are working
in Iran?
N.M.Taraki. No less than 200 thou-
sand people. They moved to Iran 5-6 years
ago, during the regime of Daoud and even
earlier. If they are going to be expelled, then
under the guise of Afghan workers there will
be guerillas coming as well, since it is very
difficult to determine who is Iranian and
who is Afghan from one’s appearance. I
wanted to touch on the question of the needs
of the Afghan army. We would like to re-
ceive armored helicopters, an additional
number of armored transports and military
infantry vehicles, as well as modern means
of communication. Also, maintenance per-
sonnel would be of great help to us.
D.F. Ustinov. It seems that we are talk-
ing about MI-24 helicopters, which have
bullet-proof armor. We will give you 6 such
helicopters during June-July and 6 more in
the fourth quarter of this year. Perhaps we
will be able to move up the timetable for
deliveries.
N.M.Taraki. We have great need for
these helicopters, and it would be good if
they arrived together with pilots.
A.N.Kosygin. We can send you main-
tenance specialists, which would take care
of these helicopters at the airport, but, of
course, not battle crews. We have already
spoken about the matter.
D.F.Ustinov. You must prepare your
own pilots. We are training your officers,
and we can expedite their release.
N.M.Taraki. Perhaps we can get heli-
copter pilots from Hanoi or some other
country, for example, Cuba?
A.N.Kosygin. As I have already said
earlier, we have helped and are helping Viet-
nam a great deal, but they never asked us to
send them our pilots. They only asked for
technical specialists. We are training 400
Afghan officers. Choose the people you
need, and we will expedite their training.
N.M.Taraki. We would very much like
the delivery of helicopters to be expedited.
We have a great need for them.
A.N.Kosygin. We will further exam-
ine your request, and, if possible, will expe-
dite the shipment of helicopters.
D.F. Ustinov. But, at the same time,
you must worry about pilots for these heli-
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