Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan
About The InvasionIn 1979, Soviet troops were sent into Afghanistan to protect a newly installed Marxist regime facing resistance. The Muslim rebels, also known as the Mujahadeen, resisted the new communist government in Afghanistan because it went against their religious beliefs. When the Soviets entered Afghanistan, the country was already in a civil war and Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin had taken over power from Muhammad Taraki. Amin's gain of power shifted Afghanistan from a democratic republic to a communist based government, creating the instability within the nation.
The Soviets entered Afghanistan claiming that they were invited by Amin to provide military assistance if needed. Soviet forces shot Amin shortly after arriving, and he was replaced by Barbak Kamal. Kamal needed Soviet support to keep him in power, and fighting between the Soviets and Mujahideen guerilla forces began. |
US Involvement |
Meanwhile, The United States, fearing that the Soviets were moving towards oil fields in the Persian Gulf, partnered with Pakistani intelligence to recruit and train guerilla forces. The US wanted to stop the Soviet forces to prevent communism from spreading to Afghanistan. The trained Mujahadeen forces were successful in providing resistance against the Soviets. To show further opposition to the Soviet occupation, the US pulled out of the SALT treaty talks, and boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. The fighting in Afghanistan continued until April of 1988, when the Geneva Accords were signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The treaties contained a timeline for Soviet withdrawal, and all troops were gone by February of 1989.
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Impact |
The major significance of the war in Afghanistan was that it revealed the true strength of the Soviet army, and it was not as strong as it appeared. Although the army had a reputation of being powerful, the Afghanistan fighting showed the world how poor the Soviet army was outside of military displays. The Soviets were being held off by rebel forces that were no match to the size or organization of the Soviet army. It was an embarrassment to the Soviets, who no longer appeared to be invincible to the rest of the world.
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For a 41 picture photo gallery, visit http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/08/the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan-1979-1989/100786/