Us Says Iran Took Afghans' Missiles
Sydney Morning Herald
Sunday October 18, 1987
WASHINGTON, Sunday: American intelligence agencies have established that the Stinger missile parts found on an Iranian attack boat in the Persian Gulf this month were part of a batch supplied by the US to Afghan rebels, who lost them to Iranian forces in June.
Administration officials said the Afghans had lost the missiles in a skirmish with Iranian troops who surprised them after they crossed the Iran-Afghanistan border.
Officials gave various estimates of the number of missiles involved. One said that 30 missiles were lost, while two others said that the number was between eight and 10.
Administration officials said the capture of the missiles then touched off diplomatic activity in which Pakistani officials and the Afghan guerillas, appealing for solidarity with the Islamic cause, tried to persuade Iran to return them.
The missile parts, including a battery marked with a serial number, were found on two Iranian boats captured on October 8.
American officials say they are convinced that reports the Afghan groups had sold some of the missiles to Iran are untrue.
However, they are leaving open the possibility that the Afghan rebel commanders might not have told the whole truth.
The conclusion that the batteries had been part of a shipment to the Afghans is likely to revive a debate in the US Administration and Congress over whether and under what circumstances such weapons should be provided to guerillas.
© 1987 Sydney Morning Herald