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Ali Ahmad Jalali
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Afghan Guerrilla Warfare: In the Words of the Mjuahideen Fighters (Zenith Military Classics) Paperback – January 18, 2002

by Ali Ahmad Jalali (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, few experts believed the fledgling Mujahideen resistance movement had a chance of withstanding the modern, mechanized onslaught of the Soviet Army. But somehow, the Mujahideen prevailed against a larger and decisively better equipped foe. No one predicted the Soviet Union would withdraw in defeat in 1989. With more than 100 first-hand reports from Mujahideen combat veterans and maps illustrating locations and disposition of forces, this book is a tactical look at a decentralized army of foot-mobile guerrillas as they wage war against a superior force. Learn about Mujahideen ambushes, raids, shelling attacks, fights against heliborne insertions, attacks on Soviet strong points, and urban combat in this rare look at the Soviet-Afghan conflict.
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  1. Print length
    448 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Zenith Press
  4. Publication date
    January 18, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6.13 x 1 x 9.13 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0760313229
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0760313220
  8. See all details
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Ali Ahmad Jalali

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zenith Press (January 18, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0760313229
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0760313220
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1 x 9.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

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Ali Ahmad Jalali

Ali Ahmad Jalali

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4.4 out of 5 stars
32 global ratings

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Customers find the book interesting and engaging. They describe it as a great read from the enemy's perspective.

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3 customers mention "Interest"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting. They say it provides an interesting view of the war against the Soviet war machine and from the enemy's perspective.

"...Afghanistan and found this read both familiar and interesting from the perspective of the enemy. Highly recommend." Read more

"VERY INTERESTING. READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOVIET VERSION." Read more

"Interesting view of the war against the inflexible Soviet war machine...." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it an engaging read from the enemy's perspective.

"Great product" Read more

"Great read from the enemy’s perspective...." Read more

"Great Book..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • buyer1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great product
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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    Great product
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  • Matthew Woodbury
    4.0 out of 5 stars Account of the mujahadeen
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    great account of mujahadeen tactics against the soviet union, and how they bled a juggernaught. Informative for those with a love of military history, or Soldiers/marines headed to Afghanistan

    they are using the same proven tactics against us today
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  • J. Vincent Genco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read from the enemy’s perspective.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I served in Afghanistan and found this read both familiar and interesting from the perspective of the enemy. Highly recommend.
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  • Jason
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If you ever felt that you needed some idea of how to beat a larger force with force look no further. They beat the Russians and due to politics they are allowed to beat us too. A smaller force can win with Gorilla warfare.
    One person found this helpful
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  • NITEVIPER
    5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INTERESTING. READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOVIET VERSION ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2015
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    VERY INTERESTING. READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOVIET VERSION.
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  • R. Forczyk
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Tactical Primer on Mujahidin Operations
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2005
    Afghan Guerrilla Warfare is the counterpart to the earlier volume The Bear Went Over the Mountain that described Soviet tactics in Afghanistan. Lester Grau and Ali Ahmad traveled to Pakistan in the 1990s to interview about 40 Mujahidin (Holy Warrior) fighters about their perspectives on the war. This is a detailed tactical study intended for professional soldiers - not academics and not the general public, although some from each group may find this study interesting. The authors have amassed over one hundred interviews into a series of tactical vignettes that are organized by topics, such as ambushes, raids, urban combat and defending base camps. Most of the vignettes include a sketch map, along with references to the 1:100,000 map sheets consulted. The result is an impressive volume that acts essentially as the FM 100-5 Operations for Afghan insurgents. Although there is not a direct relationship between the Soviet experience in Afghanistan and the current Coalition experience in Iraq, there are enough tactical similarities to merit proper study of the lessons in these pages.

    Afghan Guerrilla Warfare goes a long way towards dispelling many of the myths and misconceptions that have arisen about the Mujahidin, starting with the notion that they were tactical wizards of some sort. The authors detail the gamut of Mujahidin operations, and their execution ranges from professionally planned with successful outcomes to amateurish operations that end in catastrophe. Readers will be amazed to see how some Mujahidin groups used the same ambush spots over and over again, without the Soviets anticipating it or making any countermoves. On the other hand, it is interesting to read about the number of occasions where the mujahidin were caught by surprise or even asleep. It is also clear that the high degree of Soviet tactical incompetence enhanced the success of Mujahidin efforts, but on the rare occasions when the Soviets did their homework, the Muj suffered accordingly. The authors also make the point that the Mujahidin did not expect to win the war in the short term and consequently, their methods were geared toward protracted attrition warfare rather than achieving great operational objectives.

    Many of the strengths of the Afghan Mujahidin - invisibility and mobility - are also strengths for the current insurgents in Iraq. The Afghan guerrillas excelled at hit-and-run raids in both mountainous and urban terrain, inflicting losses on Soviet convoys and then melting away before the Soviets replied with artillery and helicopter gunships (unlike the US, the Soviets replied mostly by fire, rather than maneuver). The guerrillas were also very good - or the Soviets were very bad - about cordon and search operations; these efforts usually ended up with the guerrillas slipping the noose. On the other hand, the Soviets were gradually able to impact Mujahidin logistics (by destroying villages and moving population), which forced the guerrillas to build large base camps in mountainous terrain. These "mountain fortresses," such as Tora Bora, were tough nuts to crack but the authors believe that they were something of a liability for the insurgents, tying down many troops in defensive roles and attractive Soviet firepower at a fixed target.

    There are some useful lessons in these pages for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today. First, the guerrillas never developed an effective means of dealing with Soviet minefields around fortified bases - and it is likely that current guerrillas would be equally stymied by US antipersonnel mines and obstacles (although the US cannot politically afford to use mines indiscriminately as the Soviets did). Second, lack of a unified command structure made it difficult to crack the insurgency (i.e. leaders were replaceable) but it also made it nearly impossible for the insurgents to rise above the tactical level of warfare. Without a unified command, it is exceedingly difficult for guerrillas to fight warfare on the operational level - a necessary prerequisite for victory. Finally, the mujahidin in Afghanistan rarely used suicide tactics or targeted civilians - unlike the preference of Iraqi insurgents today. The Afghan insurgents enjoyed popular support in many areas because they were fighting a hated invader (who brought nothing but tyranny and devastation) and they focused their efforts on military targets. However, the current Iraqi insurgents display an insensitivity toward civilian casualties that undermines their ability to gather popular support, despite the presence of an invader. Ultimately, Grau's study sheds light on how one particular Muslim culture waged jihad against one particular foe, but the lessons are useful in a general sense for the types of conflict that the US is likely to see for years to come.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • CG MCMAHON
    5.0 out of 5 stars Afghan Guerrilla Warfare
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting view of the war against the inflexible Soviet war machine. The present day Taliban will find NATO forces extremely more flexible and lethal.
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  • A.
    3.0 out of 5 stars The forest for the trees
    Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2009
    When I was a Grunt, I picked this book up between my first and second tour in Iraq. Unfortunately, it was not as helpful as I would have hoped - we wound up in a small city and the terrain was difficult to reconcile with the rugged mountains described in this book.

    Afghan Guerrilla Warfare, as has already been mentioned, contains a series of after-action reports by Mujaheddin commanders in Afghanistan during the Soviet Invasion. These are typically well detailed and accompanied by simple military graphic illustrations of the various encounters.

    This book offers a window into the sophistication of these seemingly unorganized bands of guerrillas. There is no big-picture summary here, and everything is detailed in tactical terms - i.e. single limited engagement missions. This becomes repetitive, but there are a few singular encounters that will make the reader sit up and take notice again.

    There is little here concerning the hearts and minds of the fighters, and those looking for a glimpse into these places would best look elsewhere. This is a book about fighting - primarily through ambush. Detailed are the weapons, emplacements, and actions on the objective; the motivations are essentially left out of the equation.

    In all, I'd recommend this book to those who are being deployed to Afghanistan, as I'm sure it will be far more immediately relevant to the experiences had in that particular country. Again, the emphasis is on the tactics used which is of the utmost importance to the Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Squids on the ground. For the hobbyist with interest in military affairs or the socio-political nature of the current global conflict: I would honestly advise looking somewhere else, as this lacks the depth and breadth you may be looking for.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • alkbt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Livre arrivé rapidement et conforme à la description !
    Reviewed in France on June 10, 2021
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    Livre arrivé rapidement et conforme à la description !
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  • The Real Slim Davey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference regarding the Soviet experience
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent reference regarding the Soviet experience.

    Some encounters obviously have to be taken with a pinch of salt but there are few such documents detailing post WW2 scenarios.

    Interesting to see the development of tactics over time as newer weapons and more experienced fighters arrived in Afghanistan.
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  • G G MACLACHLAN
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2016
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    A present for my son- he enjoyed it?
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