Soviets, Afghans repelled in big drive, rebels say

Soviet and Afghan government troops launched and reportedly failed in a big operation to gain control of a rebel stronghold near Kabul. They took heavy casualties, Afghan resistance groups said Tuesday.

Afghan government forces have attempted several times in the past to gain control of the Panjsher Valley, which Western military experts regard as the best-organized rebel base in Afghanistan.

Reports from New Delhi said that the Soviet and Afghan forces failed in the operation after encountering heavy resistance.