25,000 more Soviet troops reported in Afghanistan

November 18, 1980

The Soviet Union has sent another 25,000 troops into Afhganistan for a final prewinter push to wipe out guerrilla strongholds in four eastern provinces, a doctor traveling from Afghanistan said. He said thousands of civilians have been killing in the oftensive, intended to seal Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan to trap Muslim insurgents inside the country, isolated from arms and equipment.

The new troops are added to the estimated 85,000 that Moscow stationed in the country 11 months ago.