Afghanistan

Moscow's short, hot summer is threatening to bring an early autumn chill to Kabul. Facing economic and political collapse at home, the Kremlin is reviewing its largesse abroad. Boris Yeltsin openly opposes continuing aid to Afghan President Najibullah, and Mikhail Gorbachev, who discovered several proponents of continued support among those who plotted to overthrow him, is likely soon to pull the plug.

Although Soviet cargo planes are still flying in, the Russian wheat they are carrying is actually supplied by the Indian government (purchased by New Delhi under a barter arrangement). Despite those shipments, Kabul is suffering from a major wheat shortage at a time when it usually stockpiles supplies for the long winter. Najibullah still has a formidable store of weapons but is facing a critical shortage of fuel. The price of gasoline has more than doubled in recent months, and Western correspondents report only a trickle of traffic on Kabul's streets.

Sensing the time is ripe for a major mujahedin offensive, the U.S., Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reportedly given the go-ahead to the guerrillas. Renewed military pressure on his already demoralized forces could soon add Najibullah to the list of victims of the Soviet putsch.