THE PANJSHIR VALLEY 1980-86

◗ Mark Galeoti

◗ Osprey (2021)

◗ £15.99

◗ 96 pages (softback)

◗ ISBN:9781472844736

◗ ospreypublishing.com

The strength of this book is its portrayal of the complex intermeshing of political, social and religious factors and the military elements. There were many sides to this conflict: Soviet, and Afghan, forces; Soviet, and Afghan, governments; and several resistance movements whose aims varied from moderate to hardline, sometimes allying and sometimes competing.

The Panjshir Valley runs for around 100 miles to the north-east of Bagram, with many side-valleys and gorges that provided retreat and counter-attack routes for the guerrillas under the able and charismatic leadership of Ahmad Shah Massoud (killed by al-Qaeda in a suicide attack just two days before 9/11). The book focuses on the nine Soviet/ Afghan army offensives, describing events at operational rather than tactical level, supported by clear photographs of men, equipment and terrain. There are fair maps at around 10-15 miles to the inch, plus the familiar two-page oblique spans of the operational manoeuvres. Not an easy conflict to wargame – complex, and still subject to so much grieving on both sides – but an interesting analysis and well presented.