59. Report Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency1
SUBJECT
- CIA Covert Action Activities in Afghanistan
1. Since the signing by the President on 3 July of Specific and General Findings on Afghanistan (attached), CIA has initiated action to implement this policy.2 The following provides a status report on such action.
2. The Specific Finding: This Finding tasked CIA to carry out three options approved at a meeting of the Special Coordination Committee on 26 June. Those options and related actions follow.
[Page 173]A. Option 1: Provide International Radio Capability and Expand Insurgent Propaganda
—Initially, the possibility was explored of using [less than 1 line not declassified] radio facilities for a “Voice of Afghanistan” program. This was rejected for political considerations. CIA is considering use of [less than 1 line not declassified] radio for such broadcasts.
—A special team of propaganda and linguistic experts has been assembled and is producing both broadcast and printed material for distribution inside Afghanistan. Six leaflets have been produced and two of these have been circulated in Afghanistan, including Kabul. Four tape cassettes have been recorded with two of these distributed in Afghanistan. Radio material is being produced regularly for a low-power insurgent radio now operating near the Afghan-Pakistan border.
B. Option 2: Provide Cash and Nonlethal Support to the Insurgents
The amount of [amount not declassified] was established for this purpose. The following actions have been taken:
—[amount not declassified] has been handed to a Nuristani asset in support of that tribe’s unique insurgency effort.3
—A principal Afghan asset with excellent ties to the Peshawar insurgent leadership is enroute to Pakistan to provide [amount not declassified] to aid a coalition of dissident Afghan leaders.
—Pakistan liaison has agreed in principle to serve as a channel for CIA aid to the insurgents. We have not as yet pressed them to convey money. We believe the next week or two will provide a clearer idea as to whom the balance of the funds [amount not declassified] would best be given, unilaterally or through liaison.
—Action is being taken to assemble up to 50 medical kits for the insurgents, one kit serving 50 men.
C. Option 3: Establish a Psychological Operations Program in Pakistan
We have discussed with Pakistan liaison their interest in providing to the insurgents a dependable broadcast capability. In judging this local capability by the insurgents to be even more important than the projected international broadcasts of Option 1 above, CIA has taken the following action:
3. The General Finding: This Finding tasked the worldwide covert action infrastructure to expose the Kabul regime as despotic and subservient to the Soviets, and to publicize insurgent activities. A Perspectives [Page 174] was coordinated with Department of State on 3 August and sent to the field. Under this Perspectives and an earlier one on Soviet Interference in Other Countries Affairs, the following has been accomplished:
—145 major items have been placed in the media of 35 countries.
—Regular monthly briefings on Afghanistan are being provided friendly liaisons.
—Briefings have been utilized by 23 agents of influence.
All portions of this document are SECRET.
- Source: National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box I–047, Afghanistan: 15 Feb 1979–22 Aug 1979. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. The report was attached at Tab C to an August 22 memorandum from Henze to Denend, not printed, that responded to Mondale’s request for information on Afghanistan. Henze did not specify when Mondale made the request.↩
- Attached at Tab B to Henze’s August 22 memorandum to Denend, but not printed. For the Presidential Finding approved at the June 26 SCC meeting, see footnote 5, Document 53.↩
- The Nuristani are an ethnic group indigenous to northeastern Afghanistan.↩