Soviets say Afghan rebels mustered 700 in an attack

The Soviet news agency Tass gave a rare insight into the strength of antigovernment forces in Afghanistan, reporting that a unit of 700 guerrillas had attacked a single border post defended successfully by 43 regulars of the Afghan Army. The report alleged that guerrillas left behind machine guns made in China and the US, and British-made land mines.

The Soviet press rarely publishes details of fighting in Afghanistan, but Western diplomats says recent reports are intended to show that Soviet troops are still needed there.