The Other Side of the Mountain Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, few experts believed that the fledgling Mujahideen resistance movement had a chance of withstanding the Soviet Army. in 1989, realizing they were trapped in an unwinnable war where they were suffering "death from a thousand cuts" by an intractable enemy who had no hope of winning, but fought on because it was the right thing to do, the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. Few studies of guerrilla warfare from the guerrilla's perspective exist. To capture this perspective and the tactical experience of the Mujahideen, the United States Marine Corps commissioned this study and sent two retired combat veterans to interview Mujahideen. From those interviews has come this work, which tells the guerillas' story as interpreted by military professionals. This is a book about death and survival, adaptation and perseverance. It provides an understanding of guerrilla field craft, tactics, techniques and procedures.