The Tunnel That Never Echoed

Gunfire erupted from hidden side shafts carved into the tunnel walls. Echoes vanished

before they could guide return fire. A soldier screamed into the radio for help —

no signal escaped the rock. Afghan fighters moved through narrow passages,

striking quickly, then disappearing into darkness. Weapons, ammunition,

and supplies were seized. Before sunrise, the tunnel fell silent again.

When a recovery unit arrived days later, the tunnel was open —

but empty. No vehicles. No bodies. Only scraped walls and fresh footprints

leading deeper into the mountain. Soviet records later called it “a logistical failure.”