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Sarandoy

January 19, 2023

The Sarandoy or Tsarandoi (Pashto:څارندوی - "Defenders (of the Revolution)") were a militarized gendarmerie force of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s,[1] during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Sarandoy
Sarandoy gendarmes at a checkpoint (LIFE magazine)
Active1978–1992
CountryAfghanistan
AllegianceDemocratic Republic of Afghanistan
BranchMinistry of Interior Affairs
TypeGendarmerie
RoleInternal security
Counter-insurgency
Size115,000 men (at height)
HeadquartersKabul
Nickname(s)"Defenders of the Revolution"
EngagementsSoviet–Afghan War
Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
General Mohammad Aslam Watanjar

History

Successor of the former Afghan Regional Gendarmerie, the Sarandoy were raised in 1978 with an initial strength of 30,000–35,000 officers and enlisted men, intended to be used on internal security duties.[2][3][4]

The Soviet MVD Kobalt unit was responsible for providing training assistance to Sarandoy officers from 1980/1981.[5] 5,000 Soviet advisors were brought to Afghanistan to assist in training.[6]

The unit was disbanded by 1992 after the start of the Afghan Civil War due to mass cases of desertion.[7][8]

Lack of cooperation

The Sarandoy was subjected to internal politics of the ruling PDPA,[9] as its forces were controlled by the Khalq faction, opposed to the Parcham faction which controlled the KHAD intelligence service. Accordingly, armed clashes occurred on occasion between the Sarandoy and the KHAD.[10]

In some instances, the Sarandoy's assets were mobilized against pro-Parcham factions.[6]

Missions

The Sarandoy were tasked to provide support for Soviet and Afghan forces during anti-guerrilla operations.[5] They were also tasked to arrest any deserters and ensure conscription compliance.[5] The unit was tasked to investigate and join in operations to arrest anyone deemed to enemies of the government.[6]

From 1985, the Sarandoy were tasked to protect economic assets such as oil fields and gas pipelines.[5] When the Soviets started to leave Afghanistan, they were used to provide security during humanitarian missions and were seen speaking to locals about the purpose of these missions.[5]

A Russian source mentioned that Sarandoy personnel moonlighted as bodyguards under orders from Gulabzoy.[5]

Organization

Placed under the control of the Ministry of Interior Affairs,[8] the Sarandoy was commanded by the Minister of Interior General Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy, a former Afghan Air Force officer.[11][12] At one point, the Sarandoy fielded some 115,000 men, compared to the Afghan Army's 160,000,[13] while at other times the Sarandoy were said to exceed the Army. The unit grew its size in respond to the rise of the mujahideen insurgency.[6]

Those who served in the Sarandoy were paid 162 dollars a month, a wage which was higher than that of Deputy Minister of National Defence before the April 1978 Saur Revolution and some of them would prove effective fighters, although many were little more than thugs.[4]

Mark Urban wrote in 1988 that '...By 1985 there were 20 identified Sarandoy Operational Battalions and Mountain Battalions. They were attached to provincial Sarandoy commands and include[d] armoured vehicles and light artillery. The Kabul Security Command controlled two mobile regiments (the 1st and 2nd)... A further four Sarandoy brigades/regiments have been identified in Badakhshan (24th Sarandoy Brigade), Kandahar, Baghlan and Parwan.[14] At the beginning of 1986, operational control of some units passed to the new unified Ministry of State Security.

A number of previously Sarandoy units were eventually upgraded to Afghan Army formations,[6] as part of the regularization of the militia. Among these units was the Isma'ili 80th Division in Baghlan Province.

While the Sarandoy were reported to be effective in fighting the mujahideen, Soviet military personnel reported concerns that they're likely to be infiltrated by mujahideen groups.[5] In turn, this forces them to limit sharing whatever information they have to Sarandoy officers.[5]

Training

Some prospective Sarandoy were chosen to be trained in the USSR.[6]

List of commanders

See also

References

  1. ^ Craig Karp, (March 1988), US Department of State Bulletin.
  2. ^ Isby & Volstad 1986, p. 20.
  3. ^ O'Balance 1993, p. 88.
  4. ^ a b Galeotti 2021, p. 19.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG1078.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ a b c d e f Landsford 2017, p. 409.
  7. ^ Lansford 2017, p. 410.
  8. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2006-06-10.
  9. ^ Robert Johnson (2005). A region in turmoil: South Asian conflicts since 1947. Reaktion Books. pp. 176–. ISBN 978-1-86189-257-7. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  10. ^ Shaista Wahab; Barry Youngerman (2007). A brief history of Afghanistan. Infobase Publishing. pp. 166–. ISBN 978-0-8160-5761-0. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  11. ^ Urban 1988, p. 46.
  12. ^ Urban 1988, p. 182.
  13. ^ Milt Bearden; James Risen (6 May 2003). The main enemy: the inside story of the CIA's final showdown with the KGB. Random House Digital, Inc. pp. 310–. ISBN 978-0-679-46309-2. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  14. ^ Urban 1988, p. 226.

Bibliography

  • O'Ballance, Edgar (1993). Afghan Wars, Battles in a hostile land - 1839 to the present. UK: Brassey's. ISBN 1-85753-308-9.
  • Isby, David; Volstad, Ron (1993). Russia's War in Afghanistan. UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-691-6.
  • Guest, Ken (1994). Flashpoint! At the Front Line of Today's Wars. UK: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-247-2.
  • Galeotti, Mark (2021). Storm‑333: KGB and Spetsnaz seize Kabul, Soviet–Afghan War 1979. UK: Oxford. ISBN 9781472841872.
  • Landsford, Tom (2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. USA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598847598.
  • Urban, Mark (1988). War in Afghanistan. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0333432648.
  • Zaloga, Steven J.; Lucznak, Wojciech; Beldam, Barry (1992). Armor of the Afghanistan War. Hong Kong: Concord Publications. ISBN 978-0333432648.

January 19, 2023
sarandoy, tsarandoi, pashto, څارندوی, defenders, revolution, were, militarized, gendarmerie, force, soviet, backed, democratic, republic, afghanistan, 1980s, during, soviet, afghan, gendarmes, checkpoint, life, magazine, active1978, 1992countryafghanistanalleg. The Sarandoy or Tsarandoi Pashto څارندوی Defenders of the Revolution were a militarized gendarmerie force of the Soviet backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s 1 during the Soviet Afghan War SarandoySarandoy gendarmes at a checkpoint LIFE magazine Active1978 1992CountryAfghanistanAllegianceDemocratic Republic of AfghanistanBranchMinistry of Interior AffairsTypeGendarmerieRoleInternal securityCounter insurgencySize115 000 men at height HeadquartersKabulNickname s Defenders of the Revolution EngagementsSoviet Afghan WarAfghan Civil War 1989 1992 CommandersNotablecommandersGeneral Sayed Mohammad GulabzoyGeneral Mohammad Aslam Watanjar Contents 1 History 1 1 Lack of cooperation 2 Missions 3 Organization 3 1 Training 4 List of commanders 5 See also 6 References 6 1 BibliographyHistory EditSuccessor of the former Afghan Regional Gendarmerie the Sarandoy were raised in 1978 with an initial strength of 30 000 35 000 officers and enlisted men intended to be used on internal security duties 2 3 4 The Soviet MVD Kobalt unit was responsible for providing training assistance to Sarandoy officers from 1980 1981 5 5 000 Soviet advisors were brought to Afghanistan to assist in training 6 The unit was disbanded by 1992 after the start of the Afghan Civil War due to mass cases of desertion 7 8 Lack of cooperation Edit The Sarandoy was subjected to internal politics of the ruling PDPA 9 as its forces were controlled by the Khalq faction opposed to the Parcham faction which controlled the KHAD intelligence service Accordingly armed clashes occurred on occasion between the Sarandoy and the KHAD 10 In some instances the Sarandoy s assets were mobilized against pro Parcham factions 6 Missions EditThe Sarandoy were tasked to provide support for Soviet and Afghan forces during anti guerrilla operations 5 They were also tasked to arrest any deserters and ensure conscription compliance 5 The unit was tasked to investigate and join in operations to arrest anyone deemed to enemies of the government 6 From 1985 the Sarandoy were tasked to protect economic assets such as oil fields and gas pipelines 5 When the Soviets started to leave Afghanistan they were used to provide security during humanitarian missions and were seen speaking to locals about the purpose of these missions 5 A Russian source mentioned that Sarandoy personnel moonlighted as bodyguards under orders from Gulabzoy 5 Organization EditPlaced under the control of the Ministry of Interior Affairs 8 the Sarandoy was commanded by the Minister of Interior General Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy a former Afghan Air Force officer 11 12 At one point the Sarandoy fielded some 115 000 men compared to the Afghan Army s 160 000 13 while at other times the Sarandoy were said to exceed the Army The unit grew its size in respond to the rise of the mujahideen insurgency 6 Those who served in the Sarandoy were paid 162 dollars a month a wage which was higher than that of Deputy Minister of National Defence before the April 1978 Saur Revolution and some of them would prove effective fighters although many were little more than thugs 4 Mark Urban wrote in 1988 that By 1985 there were 20 identified Sarandoy Operational Battalions and Mountain Battalions They were attached to provincial Sarandoy commands and include d armoured vehicles and light artillery The Kabul Security Command controlled two mobile regiments the 1st and 2nd A further four Sarandoy brigades regiments have been identified in Badakhshan 24th Sarandoy Brigade Kandahar Baghlan and Parwan 14 At the beginning of 1986 operational control of some units passed to the new unified Ministry of State Security A number of previously Sarandoy units were eventually upgraded to Afghan Army formations 6 as part of the regularization of the militia Among these units was the Isma ili 80th Division in Baghlan Province While the Sarandoy were reported to be effective in fighting the mujahideen Soviet military personnel reported concerns that they re likely to be infiltrated by mujahideen groups 5 In turn this forces them to limit sharing whatever information they have to Sarandoy officers 5 Training Edit Some prospective Sarandoy were chosen to be trained in the USSR 6 List of commanders EditGeneral Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy General Mohammad Aslam WatanjarSee also Edit Afghanistan portalAfghan Local Police ALP Defense of the Revolution DotR A Region in Turmoil South Asian Conflicts since 1947 by Rob JohnsonReferences Edit Craig Karp March 1988 US Department of State Bulletin Isby amp Volstad 1986 p 20 sfn error no target CITEREFIsbyVolstad1986 help O Balance 1993 p 88 sfn error no target CITEREFO Balance1993 help a b Galeotti 2021 p 19 a b c d e f g h https www rand org content dam rand pubs monographs 2011 RAND MG1078 pdf bare URL PDF a b c d e f Landsford 2017 p 409 Lansford 2017 p 410 sfn error no target CITEREFLansford2017 help a b Afghanistan not so great games Archived from the original on 2006 06 10 Robert Johnson 2005 A region in turmoil South Asian conflicts since 1947 Reaktion Books pp 176 ISBN 978 1 86189 257 7 Retrieved 29 March 2011 Shaista Wahab Barry Youngerman 2007 A brief history of Afghanistan Infobase Publishing pp 166 ISBN 978 0 8160 5761 0 Retrieved 29 March 2011 Urban 1988 p 46 Urban 1988 p 182 Milt Bearden James Risen 6 May 2003 The main enemy the inside story of the CIA s final showdown with the KGB Random House Digital Inc pp 310 ISBN 978 0 679 46309 2 Retrieved 29 March 2011 Urban 1988 p 226 Bibliography Edit O Ballance Edgar 1993 Afghan Wars Battles in a hostile land 1839 to the present UK Brassey s ISBN 1 85753 308 9 Isby David Volstad Ron 1993 Russia s War in Afghanistan UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 0 85045 691 6 Guest Ken 1994 Flashpoint At the Front Line of Today s Wars UK Arms and Armour Press ISBN 1 85409 247 2 Galeotti Mark 2021 Storm 333 KGB and Spetsnaz seize Kabul Soviet Afghan War 1979 UK Oxford ISBN 9781472841872 Landsford Tom 2017 Afghanistan at War From the 18th Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century USA ABC CLIO ISBN 9781598847598 Urban Mark 1988 War in Afghanistan UK Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 978 0333432648 Zaloga Steven J Lucznak Wojciech Beldam Barry 1992 Armor of the Afghanistan War Hong Kong Concord Publications ISBN 978 0333432648 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarandoy amp oldid 1130482293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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