Kokari-Sharshari or Kakari and Sharshari was a fortified supply depot in western Afghanistan, operated by mujaheddin as a logistic base in the 1980s during the Soviet invasion and at least up to 1990.
"Kokari-Sharshari" (Persian شرشر) — fortified areas of afghan mujahideen (1979-1989) fortification of afghan mujahedin during the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989). Fortified area, base area, fortification structure, strongpoint transshipment base "of the" Western united group of afghan mujahideen of field commander Ismail Khan, in mountain range Kukhe-Senge-Surakh (White Mountains) in the zone of the Afghan-Iranian border, Herat province.
History of creation
The base area was a transshipment and support point, at the same time - a strategic body in the logistics support system for Afghan mujahedin in the area bordering Iran in western Afghanistan under the command of the "Western united group" of Mujahideen, Ismail Khan. The base area of Kokari-Sharshari is Kokari-Shershari, Kakari-Shashari, Kakari-Shushari, Sharshar, Sher Sher, a fortified complex of protective structures and fortifications with powerful defensive communications organized according to a single plan for control of the fire system was called upon to conduct sustained combat operations in a sustained defense on a broad front in complete isolation and with relatively small forces and means to inflict maximum damage on the superior - besieging and assaulting forces of the Soviet at ojsk, using heavy artillery and assault aviation.
It is located on the mountainous section of the Afghan-Iranian border in the province of Herat - the west of the Republic of Afghanistan. "Kokari-Sharshari" - the second after Javar, from the three largest border the fortifications of Afghan mujahideen (1979-1989)) of the base areas of Afghan mujahedeen during the Afghan war (1979-1989), along with Javara and Tora Bora.
Tactico-geographical potential
Tactico-geographical advantages are due to the proximity of the border of a foreign state - not a controlled territory, with which military, political, food aid and the replenishment of the Kokari units by live force were continuously provided. The maximum territorial proximity of military training camps for the training of military specialists in adjacent Iran to the "Kokari-Sharshari", a unified system of underground communications, provided systematic strengthening of the "Kokari" garrison by fresh forces and means, including special military training and motivated by radical Islamic ideology by the Mujahideen and numerous foreign mercenaries of a number of Islamic states.
Groups of afghan mujahideen, Arab and Iranian mercenaries trained in military training camps located in Iran were freely transported across the border Gerirud River from the Iranian border posts Nallupain (elevation 710), Mellu-Pain and other frontier posts to the arsenal base "Kokari". Often, from the territory of Iran, the fire from various weapons was adjusted for the positions of troops approaching the fortified troops.
The mountainous terrain was the most high-strength natural means of protecting and masking the targets of attack by the base formations of the formation base, warehouses, control points were equipped in half-tunnels of mountain slopes and caves
The first clashes around the base between Soviet-Kabul forces and Mujaheddin were reported in June 1986; it was just a small part of an extensive Soviet campaign to cut off the rebel supply routes. During the fighting eleven people were killed by 19 June.
The rebel activity around this site was a primary motive for the Soviets to mount a massive military assault in August 1986, which later became known as operation Trap. The eventual purpose was to break the rebel logistic chain in Herat Province. It turned out later that the success of the operation was neither final nor decisive, as in September 1986 the Soviet Union's official information agency TASS reported an accomplishment of another operation against "counterrevolutionary gangs in Herat Province". According to the report, Kabul forces located a great number of weapon- and ammunition stashes which were destroyed without casualties.
According to the memoirs of General A.A. Lyakhovsky: "During the Afghan War (1979-1989), the armed opposition formations in the border areas were equipped with large trans-shipment bases: Marulgad, Rabati-Jali, Shinarai, KOKARI-SHARSHARI, Javara, Lmarchhouse, Angurkot, Khodjamulk, Mianpushta, Anandara, Chagali , Tangiseidan, they were also the base areas at the same time ... "- General AA. Lyakhovsky "Tragedy and valor of Afghanistan".