The Soviets have also destroyed livestock and arable land and poisoned wells. This again is in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. The war has uprooted almost the entire countryside and caused over 2 million people to become refugees along the borders with Pakistan and Iran. This from a country of only 14 to 15 million people. The Soviets most modern and most effective weapon. the MI24 helicopter gunships. roaming up and down the countryside firing rockets and dropping bombs have wrought systematic destruction on villages and small cities and have literally ended all rural life in certain areas by also destroying crops. In addition. these same gunships have even attacked some Pakistani refugee camps. which is in direct violation of the sovereignty of Pakistan. I recently returned from a visit to the Afghanistan border area. and had an opportunity to meet with many of the Afghan Mujahodin. the freedom fighters. I met with Pakistani officials. with Afghan families in the refugee camps. and listened to what the freedom fighters had to tell about their experiences fighting the Soviet troops inside Afghanistan. The war is 18 months old. and no settlement is in sight. The Soviets control urban areas which account for some 15 to 20 percent of the total country.
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refugee refugees