Soviet war in Afghanistan

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The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year war. This was fought between the forces of the Soviet forces and certain anti-government forces of Afghanistan. The forces of the Soviet Union supported the government ruling Afghanistan at that time. The war begun in December 1979, and lasted until February 1989. Many persons were killed or wounded in this long war. About 15,000 persons of the Soviet army lost their lives in this war. About 35,000 persons of the Soviet army were wounded. About 1,000,000 persons of Afghanistan lost their lives. The anti-government Afghan forces found support from many countries, mainly from the United States and Pakistan.

To begin with, for fighting in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union had sent its 40th Army to Afghanistan. The troops started to reach Afghanistan from 25 December 1979. The fighting continued for about ten years. After about ten, from 15 May 1988, the Soviet troops started to withdraw from Afghanistan. The withdrawals continued until 2 February 1989. On 15 February 1989, the Soviet Union announced that all its troops had left Afghanistan.

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[edit] Background

The Arabs had migrated to these regions in 642, and they were Muslims. Almost all the people of Afghanistan also followed Islam. The country has many mountains and deserts. Movements are difficult. All these had made the population of Afghanistan a population generally speaking the same language. Their ethnic composition was also very compact. The population was made up mainly of Pashtun people, along with Tajiks, Hazara, Aimak, Uzbeks, Turkmen people, and some other small groups.

[edit] The Soviet deployment

[edit] Hafizullah Amin

In 1979 Hafizullah Amin was the ruler of Afghanistan. The Soviets got information from their KGB spies that Amin's rule was a threat to the stability of Afghanistan. They also suspected Amin’s loyalty to the Soviet Union. They found some information about Amin's attempt to come closer to Pakistan and China. The, the Soviets also suspected that Amin was behind the death of president Nur Muhammad Taraki. Finally, the Soviets decided to remove Amin.

[edit] Assassination of Amin

On 22 December 1979, Soviet advisors to the Army of Afghanistan took many steps. They stopped all telecommunication links in Kabul. No message could come inside the city or go outside the city. Troops of Soviet Air force also reached Kabul. Amin saw some dangers. He moved to the Presidential palace for better safety. The palace was named Tajbeg Palace.

On 27 December 1979, about 700 Soviet troops took over major government and military buildings at Kabul. The troops wore uniforms similar to the military of Afghanistan. They also took charge of Presidential Palace named Tajbeg Palace. At 7:00 p.m. the Soviet troops destroyed Kabul's communication hub. This stopped all communication among Afghan troops. At 7:15 p.m., Soviet troops entered the Tajbeg Palace. By morning of 28 December 1979, the first part of military action was over. Amin was killed in the action. His two sons were also killed. The Soviets announced freedom of Afghanistan from the rule of Amin. They told that the Soviet action was to fulfill their duty as stated in the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighborliness of 1978.

[edit] Rise of Babrak Karmal

An announcement came from Kabul radio station about killing of Hafizullah Amin. The Afghan Revolutionary Central Committee (ARCC) took the responsibility for this killing. Then, the ARCC chose Babrak Karmal as the head of government of Afghanistan. Babrak Karmal requested the Soviet Union for military help.

From 25 December 1979 the Soviet troops started to enter Afghanistan. A parachute division also landed at an airport in Bagram city.

[edit] Moscow's decision for the Occupation

The government of Afghanistan requested the Soviet Union many times to send troops. The Soviet Union refused 18 times to sent troops to Afghanistan. But, finally it agreed to send the troops. The Soviet Union did not consider this as invasion as the troops came at the request of the Government of Afghanistan. But, the United States considered this as an excuse by the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan.

[edit] The occupation

Soviet operations

The Soviet troops conducted many operations in Afghanistan. But, they were not able to control all parts of Afghanistan. Several Afghan groups continued to attack and fight with the Soviet troops.

World reaction

The action of the Soviet Union received bad publicity. Some reactions were very serious. US President Jimmy Carter declared that the Soviet action was “"the most serious threat to the peace since the Second World War.”

Afghan reaction

By mid-1980s, many groups in Afghanistan had organized themselves. They fought the Soviet troops. These groups received help from many countries like United States, United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s participation

Pakistan thought that the Soviet war in Afghanistan also posed threats to it. It also started its active support to Afghans fighting the Soviet troops.

Soviet withdrawal

The Soviet war in Afghanistan had become like a non-ending war. The Soviet Union was getting a bad publicity. Inside the Soviet Union also, there were few who supported this war. Lastly, the Soviets decided to withdraw from Afghanistan.

[edit] After the war

Several things happened after the above Soviet war in Afghanistan. They may be grouped under three headings:

  • Affect on the Soviet Union
  • Affect on Afghanistan
  • Affect on the Western world

[edit] Soviet Union

A monument at Kiev
Enlarge
A monument at Kiev

The Soviet war in Afghanistan badly affected the rule of Communist Party. Many thought that the war was against Islam. This created strong feelings among the Muslim population of central Asian Soviet republics. Such sentiments perhaps added movement for an independent Chechnya. The Soviet army also felt very demoralized as many people called the army as invaders. Andrei Sakharov openly accused the action of Soviet Army in Afghanistan.

Over 15,000 Soviet troops got killed in Afghanistan from 1979 until 1989. In the above war, the Soviet Army lost hundreds of aircrafts and other military assets. A rough estimate indicates death and killing of about 1,000,000 Afghans.

[edit] Afghanistan

Even after the Soviet Army left Afghanistan, civil war continued in Afghanistan. For about three years, the Najibullah's government of Afghanistan could defend itself from the mujahedin forces opposing it. Many groups had arisen within the government itself, and some of them supported the mujahedin forces. In March 1992, General Abdul Rashid Dostam and his Uzbek militia stopped supporting the Najibullah’s government. Shortly, mujahedin forces won Kabul and started to rule most parts of Afghanistan.

During this war lasting for about ten years, Afghanistan's economy suffered badly. Grain production came down to 3.5% per year between 1978 and 1990. The Soviets also tried to bring commercial and industrial activities under state control. This also had a bad affect on the economy. With the break-up of the Soviet Union in many countries, Afghanistan’s traditional trade also suffered.

[edit] Western World

At the beginning, many people and countries had praised the USA for supporting groups fighting the Soviet forces. After the September 11 attacks, people started to question the US policy of supporting and giving money to such groups.

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