Afghanistan may have 6,000 more Soviet troops

The Soviet Union may have sent a new division-size force of up to 6,000 troops to Afghanistan. Western diplomats said the troops arrived, probably over the past few weeks, in the provincial capital of Herat near the border with Iran. It was the first time since Moscow's intervention that Soviet troops were stationed at Herat, the diplomats said, probably in an attempt to stop infiltration of rebels from Iran. It was not clear whether the soldiers were replacing other troops or reinforcing the 105,000 Soviet troops already there.

In Washington, diplomatic sources said Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger planned to visit Pakistan and other countries this fall. One major topic of discussion: Afghanistan.