U.S. Says Soviet Afghan Missiles Threaten Pakistan

The United States today charged the Soviet Union with posing a threat to Pakistan by sending SS-1 Scud missiles to Afghanistan.

The accusation was coupled with a veiled warning that the United States is determined to protect Pakistan.

“The Soviet Union knows the government of Pakistan enjoys our support,” said Charles E. Redman, the State Department spokesman.

The missiles were displayed in the Afghan capital of Kabul after Undersecretary of State Michael H. Armacost complained Monday to Soviet Ambassador Yuri V. Dubinin about other arms shipments to the Afghan government, Redman said.

The U.S. official said Pakistan is within range of the missiles. He gave no count of the Scuds now in the hands of the pro-Moscow government. Redman said Dubinin promised to inform Moscow about U.S. concerns.

The United States has reserved the right to provide guerrillas fighting the Afghan government with equal firepower. Redman declined to say whether that step will be taken.

He again registered “grave concern” over Soviet arms shipments that he said are designed to bolster Afghan forces against a rebel offensive in the Kandahar region in the southeast.

On Monday, Redman said the Soviet Union had used newly introduced MIG-27 ground-attack planes against advancing resistance fighters, violating a commitment to use its weapons only to defend Soviet troops.

He said the United States “views this augmentation of Soviet firepower in Afghanistan with grave concern.”