russia begins a hearts and minds campaign, attempting to win over the afghan populace and demoralize the guerrillas. russian military engineers repair housing and improve infrastructure, while smear propaganda against dost mohammad khan is instilled in occupied villages. for fear of attrition and image, russian presence in afghanistan is reduced to 75,000 men. guerrillas are offered pardons and protection should they give up their arms. russia declares that its goal in afghanistan is not to annex the nation
to prevent guerrillas from operating within occupied towns, a provisional government is set up which keeps afghani legal customs intact while russian operatives root out guerrillas
P.O.W. camps are constructed for captured guerrillas that only surrendered because the immediate alternative was death, but they're placed just outside towns and employ the use of russian military supplies to house the prisoners, putting them on level living conditions as the russian military itself. villagers are permitted to talk with the P.O.W.s, but only with a translator present. this is to prevent guerrillas from communicating with their captured comrades. when the war is won, or if these captured guerrillas agree to fight for russia until the war is won, they will be given their promised pardon.
lessons learned in the late days of the steppes conquest and the ongoing situation in afghanistan are used to form russian skirmisher divisions optimized for hunting guerrilla encampments
besides actively hunting the guerrillas, russian strategy is now to starve them out. mountains are excellent for hiding, but not for farming
