Afghanistan Day, to be observed March 21, will be a good opportunity for the world community to express support of the people of tiny Afghanistan who are waging a valiant fight against Soviet oppression. Appropriately, the observance coincides with the date when the Afghan peo ple traditionally observe the beginning of their new year. The day was designated in the U.S. by President Reagan after Congress passed a joint reso ution for commemoration of the “Afghanistan struggle against the occupation of their country by Soviet forces.” Allies in the European community, who voted for the observance in December, and friendly Third World countries also will mark the day. In many strife – ridden countries the extent of USSR influence and involvement might be debatable. But, as Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. pointed out prior to the Senate’s 96-0 vote for the resolution, “no one can deny the gross impropriety of the Soviet action in Afghanistan.” it was Dec. 24, 1979 that the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan – in contravention of basic principles of international law embodied in the Helsinki accords of 1975, according to several congressman. Within 72 hours its troops had executed a coup in Kabul, overthrowing the independently – oriented Amin regime and replacing it with the puppet government of Barak Kamal. So clearcut was the aggression that the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution Oct. 18, 1981 by the overwhelming vote of 116 to 23 (with 12 abstentions) calling for “the immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan.” Senators who spoke in behalf of the joint resolution in Congress cited the “powerful and heroic resistance” of the Afghan freedom fighters in the face of occupation by some 80,000 Soviet troops. Srecter said “starvation an massacre” have taken many thousands of lives and that an appalling 2.5 million Afghan refugees have been forced to flee their homeland into Pakistan. What will the Afghanistan Day obsergance accomplish? For one thing. it will keep Afghanistan before the public and not let the Afghan struggle against oppression become “the forgotten war.” It can also demonstrate international unity and support for the Afghan effort and underscore condemnation of the invasion and occupation of the small country. Further, the day would seem a good time for world leaders to renew calls for ” Soviet withdrawal and intemational talks to find permanent solutions in keeping with the aspirations of the Afghan people.