First bridge is opened on Soviet-Afghan border

The first bridge linking the Soviet Union with Afghanistan was opened across the Amu Darya River, the Soviet news agency Tass said. It quoted Afghan President Babrak Karmal as thanking Soviet engineers for their part in its construction at Termez, just inside Soviet territory. Western diplomats said the bridge had most likely been finished in a hurry so Moscow could use it to transport military supplies to its garrisons in Afghanistan.