Soviet–Afghan War

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Mortar attack on Shigal Tarna garrison, Kunar Province, 87

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Afghanistan-Pakistan - northern border. LOC 2010594050

Saur Revolution stamp 1979

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Soviet–Afghan War

The Soviet–Afghan War was a conflict that took place from December 24, 1979, to February 15, 1989. It involved the Soviet Union supporting the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen guerrilla fighters, who were backed by various countries including the United States, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The war is considered a significant episode in the Cold War, highlighting the global ideological struggle between communism and capitalism.

Background

The roots of the conflict trace back to a coup in 1978, known as the Saur Revolution, in which the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) overthrew the government of Mohammad Daoud Khan. The PDPA initiated several socialist reforms that were met with resistance across the country. In response to the growing instability and resistance against PDPA's policies, the Soviet Union intervened militarily on December 24, 1979, aiming to support the faltering communist government.

Course of the War

The Soviet intervention involved deploying approximately 100,000 troops to Afghanistan. The Soviet forces, however, faced significant guerrilla warfare from the Mujahideen, who were using the difficult terrain of Afghanistan to their advantage. The Mujahideen received substantial financial and military support from foreign nations, including the United States through Operation Cyclone, one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken.

Despite initial gains, the Soviet military found it increasingly difficult to control the countryside, with the conflict essentially becoming a stalemate. The Afghan government forces, despite Soviet support, were unable to quell the insurgency, leading to a war that lasted nearly a decade.

Impact

The war had a profound impact on Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. It resulted in significant casualties on all sides, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging from 562,000 to 2 million. The infrastructure of Afghanistan was severely damaged, and millions of Afghans were displaced, either internally or as refugees in neighboring countries.

For the Soviet Union, the war was a costly endeavor, both financially and in terms of human lives. It is often cited as one of the contributing factors to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union. The war also strained relations between the Soviet Union and the West, particularly the United States, which saw the conflict as an opportunity to counter Soviet influence in the region.

Aftermath

The Soviet Union eventually withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in 1989, following the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1988. The withdrawal did not lead to peace in Afghanistan, as the country plunged into further civil war, eventually leading to the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s.

The Soviet–Afghan War had long-lasting effects on global politics and the region. It contributed to the end of the Cold War and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of South Asia and the Middle East.

See Also

• Cold War
• Mujahideen
• Operation Cyclone
• Taliban