The World : 2 Afghans Defect in MIG

Two Afghans in a Soviet-built MIG-19 abandoned a bombing mission over Afghanistan and flew their jet to Pakistan, where they asked for political asylum, Pakistani authorities said. Officials in the northwest border village of Parachinar said the Afghan fliers landed their fully armed plane after circling the airport several times and braving ground fire from units fearing they were under attack. The two then surrendered to authorities. The crew members told airport security officials that they had been sent from Kabul to bomb Muslim guerrilla positions. Meanwhile, Pakistan officials refused to comment on reports that the Islamabad government is holding a Soviet pilot shot down last week.