Story produced by Paul after reading a book on the struggle of the Afghanistan resistance fighters against the occupying Russian army during the 1980's.
The heroics of a modern day Afghan legend . . . . The battle was named Kahraman in honour of the hound that alerted the guerillas. . . .
While recently reading the book "Kara Kush" by Indries Shah, Afghanistan's best known contemporary writer, I encountered a most exciting story about an Afghan Hound. We have all heard many accounts of ancient legends involving Afghan Hounds. I believe this modern story has produced another legend in our breed.
This is the story about the Afghan Hound Kahraman (translated to English as "Champion"), owned by Ustad Najib. Najib was an Afghan resistance fighter in the struggle against the occupying Russian army during the 1980's. To illustrate this story I will quote directly from Indries Shah where necessary.
Najib had been the only man to escape from the massacre of everyone from his village. Six thousand people had died there. The place had been levelled, on suspicion of harbouring guerillas, by air attack. Aferwards the army had come in and shot all those they found still alive.
Najib had escaped by what seemed a miracle. Early in the attack the schoolhouse had collapsed burying him, unconscious in the debris. His dog sat by him all night, whining, but ignored by the troops. In the morning the dog had partially freed Najib's face and neck by digging. Grasping its collar with a hand which he had worked free, Najib had told Kahraman "Champion", to run. Champion, understanding, it seemed, what had to be done, pulled his master from beneath the wreckage. Afghan Hounds could kill leopards, for all their effete looks. Kahraman showed that they could do other things too . . . .
FOLLOWING THIS, Najib and his constant companion Kahraman jouned the resistance fighting guerilla army of the legendary "Eagle" which was camped in the Paghman Mountains about 80 miles from the Afghan capital Kabul.
On this particular morning Najib and his hound, fellow guerilla Sayed Wazir Shah, and a boy, Wali Jan, were on look-out at the valley entrance some miles where the main body of guerillas were camped. Early in the morning they sighted advancing Russian tanks and armoured personnel carriers preparing for a surprise attack on the Eagle's headquarters. Being taken by surprise and having no means of fast communication, Wazir Shah had a brilliant idea; Wazir Shah took his flashlight from his pocket and scribbled a message. Wrapping it in his red handkerchief he tied it to the dog'd collar.
'Now Najib, tell him to go to the Eagle, fast.'
Najib stroked the dog's long mane
'Go home, Kahraman, quickly home!'
'Do you think he'll make it?'
'I don't know. I expect so. He'll go to Roman first. He's never missed a titbit yet.'
Najib, Wazir Shah and Wali continued watching the advancing Russian army while preparing to launch their own surprise attack. Meanwhile Kahraman raced back to the Eagle's headquarters.
Kahraman the hound bounded into the cave where Roman Zelikov, who often fed him, was shaking himself awake from his sleeping bag. Kahraman licked his face and buried his muzzle in the fur-lined sleeping bag. Was he looking for a morsel to eat? the man wondered.
There was a piece of red cloth tied to the dog's collar; a paper in it. He looked at it, guessed its message must be urgent, and rushed it to the Eagle and read - 'Enemy advancing in force; already reached Safedpul. Heavy armour. Perhaps hundreds of tanks and APC's - Wazir.'
MEANWHILE, back at the look-out at the entrance to the Pahman Mountains . . . .
The two men stood with the boy at the valley's mouth and saw the green pennant of the Kashsafi (the advance ascouts) go up. The drums thundered louder as it was joined by Paghman's ancient orange battle flag with its black eagle emblazoned in the centre. The message had got through - 'Shabash, Kahraman' - 'Well done Champion'.
The battle that followed was named Kahraman (Champion) in honour of the hound that alerted the guerillas. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the fight against the occupying Russian army. As was the case throughout the guerilla war against the Russians, the poorly equipped resistance fighters, at considerable loss of life, eventually overpowered the Russians and forced them to retreat.
Many accounts of the battle of Kahraman found their way into the world's press. Even some of the Soviet controlled Afghan newspapers carried accounts of the battle.
'A full scale battle, involving no less than 90 tanks and 7,200 Russians (one tank regiment and one motor rifle division), 20 helicopters and a squadron of fixed-wing attack aircraft had been out-fought by poorly armed guerillas.'
The Russian soldiers in the streets of Kabul did not appreciate it when small boys started to shout at them - 'TRAPPED BY A DOG...'
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