Zhawar Kalay [Zhawar Kalai] [Zhawar Kili] [Zhawar Khel]

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The complex of man-made tunnels and partly interconnected rock chambers (kind of a modern tahkhana) at Zhawar Kheyl (note 1), which some regarded as caves (note 2) or irrigation channels (note 3), were (?) used as underground strongholds and hide-outs, under the command of Maulawi Jalaluddin Haquani (note 4). EVALUATION: The former (?) Mujahedin (note 5) logistics transfer base is endowed with an outstanding tourism potential due to its association with the fabulous Osama bin Laden, the legendary Soviet T-34 tank of the Mujahedin forces (note 6), and its symbolic importance for Afghanistan's independence (note 7). SITUATION: At Zhawar Kalay in Khost province (note 8), the south-east facing a canyon is embraced by the mountains Sodyaki Ghar (N33°08'29”: E069°52'15” WGS84) and Moghugi Ghar (N33°08'11”: E69°54'36” WGS84, nima.mil/geonames accessed 28.05.2004), not shown on AIMS sheet PI42-11 (May 2002). BUNKER DESCRIPTION 1 (KUTSENKO 1996: 25-26, translated in GRAU & JALALI 200: 84-85): After a narrow passage of mountain road, it opened up into a wide canyon of 150 meters, whose sides stretched upwards for two kilometers. Caves were carved into the rock face of the side facing Pakistan. The caves were up to 10 m long, 4 m wide and 3 m tall. The walls were faced with brick. The cave entrances were covered with powerful iron doors which were painted in bright colours. There were 41 caves in all. All had electricity. Behind a fence was a mosque with a beautiful brick entrance and a hospital with new medical equipment manufactured in [and sponsored by?] the United States… There was a library with English-language and Farsi-language books. There was a bakery and by the entrance was a stack of fresh nan [flatbread]. In the storage area, there were metal shelving units where boxes of arms and ammunition were neatly stacked. Further on, there was a storage cave for mines… In the furthest part of the base were repair and maintenance bays… Above the storage caves wasa beautiful building marked 'Hotel'. There was overstuffed furniture inside and the floors were covered with carpets. BUNKER DESCRIPTION 2 (GRAU & JALALI 2001: 70): … as the base expanded, Mujahideen used bulldozers and explosives to dig at least 11 major tunnels into the south-east facing ridge of Sodyaki Ghar Mountain. Some of these huge tunnels reached 500 metres [SCHULER 2001: nearly 1,700 feet] and contained a hotel … This impressive base became a mandatory stop for visiting journalists, dignitaries and other 'War tourists'. [Page 81:…The second western “cave-] was 150 m long and used as the radio transmission bunker … (page 87: The Mujahideen built connecting tunnels and lengthened the caves to 400 to 500 m).: 84-85): After a narrow passage of mountain road, it opened up into a wide canyon of 150 meters, whose sides stretched upwards for two kilometers. Caves were carved into the rock face of the side facing Pakistan. The caves were up to 10 m long, 4 m wide and 3 m tall. The walls were faced with brick. The cave entrances were covered with powerful iron doors which were painted in bright colours. There were 41 caves in all. All had electricity. Behind a fence was a mosque with a beautiful brick entrance and a hospital with new medical equipment manufactured in [and sponsored by?] the United States… There was a library with English-language and Farsi-language books. There was a bakery and by the entrance was a stack of fresh nan [flatbread]. In the storage area, there were metal shelving units where boxes of arms and ammunition were neatly stacked. Further on, there was a storage cave for mines… In the furthest part of the base were repair and maintenance bays… Above the storage caves was: 84-85): After a narrow passage of mountain road, it opened up into a wide canyon of 150 meters, whose sides stretched upwards for two kilometers. Caves were carved into the rock face of the side facing Pakistan. The caves were up to 10 m long, 4 m wide and 3 m tall. The walls were faced with brick. The cave entrances were covered with powerful iron doors which were painted in bright colours. There were 41 caves in all. All had electricity. Behind a fence was a mosque with a beautiful brick entrance and a hospital with new medical equipment manufactured in [and sponsored by?] the United States… There was a library with English-language and Farsi-language books. There was a bakery and by the entrance was a stack of fresh nan [flatbread]. In the storage area, there were metal shelving units where boxes of arms and ammunition were neatly stacked. Further on, there was a storage cave for mines… In the furthest part of the base were repair and maintenance bays… Above the storage caves was: 84-85): After a narrow passage of mountain road, it opened up into a wide canyon of 150 meters, whose sides stretched upwards for two kilometers. Caves were carved into the rock face of the side facing Pakistan. The caves were up to 10 m long, 4 m wide and 3 m tall. The walls were faced with brick. The cave entrances were covered with powerful iron doors which were painted in bright colours. There were 41 caves in all. All had electricity. Behind a fence was a mosque with a beautiful brick entrance and a hospital with new medical equipment manufactured in [and sponsored by?] the United States… There was a library with English-language and Farsi-language books. There was a bakery and by the entrance was a stack of fresh nan [flatbread]. In the storage area, there were metal shelving units where boxes of arms and ammunition were neatly stacked. Further on, there was a storage cave for mines… In the furthest part of the base were repair and maintenance bays… Above the storage caves was: 84-85): After a narrow passage of mountain road, it opened up into a wide canyon of 150 meters, whose sides stretched upwards for two kilometers. Caves were carved into the rock face of the side facing Pakistan. The caves were up to 10 m long, 4 m wide and 3 m tall. The walls were faced with brick. The cave entrances were covered with powerful iron doors which were painted in bright colours. There were 41 caves in all. All had electricity. Behind a fence was a mosque with a beautiful brick entrance and a hospital with new medical equipment manufactured in [and sponsored by?] the United States… There was a library with English-language and Farsi-language books. There was a bakery and by the entrance was a stack of fresh nan [flatbread]. In the storage area, there were metal shelving units where boxes of arms and ammunition were neatly stacked. Further on, there was a storage cave for mines… In the furthest part of the base were repair and maintenance bays… Above the storage caves wasa beautiful building marked 'Hotel'. There was overstuffed furniture inside and the floors were covered with carpets. BUNKER DESCRIPTION 2 (GRAU & JALALI 2001: 70): … as the base expanded, Mujahideen used bulldozers and explosives to dig at least 11 major tunnels into the south-east facing ridge of Sodyaki Ghar Mountain. Some of these huge tunnels reached 500 metres [SCHULER 2001: nearly 1,700 feet] and contained a hotel … This impressive base became a mandatory stop for visiting journalists, dignitaries and other 'War tourists'. [Page 81:…The second western “cave-] was 150 m long and used as the radio transmission bunker … (page 87: The Mujahideen built connecting tunnels and lengthened the caves to 400 to 500 m).