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The Soviet Afghan War 1979-89: A Comprehensive Guide

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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The Soviet–Afghan War 1979–89 (Guide to...)

by Gregory Fremont-Barnes

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Language	:	English
File size	:	10702 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	106 pages

The Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1979 to 1989, was a major conflict of the Cold War. The war began when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to prop up its communist government. The mujahideen, a group of Afghan rebels, fought back with support from the United States and other countries. The war ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989 and the collapse of the communist government in 1992.

Causes of the War

There were a number of factors that contributed to the outbreak of the Soviet-Afghan War. These included:

The rise of the mujahideen, a group of Afghan rebels who opposed the communist government.
The Soviet Union's desire to maintain its influence in Afghanistan.
The United States' support for the mujahideen.

Course of the War

The Soviet-Afghan War began on December 25, 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The invasion was initially successful, and the Soviets quickly seized control of the major cities. However, the mujahideen launched a guerrilla war against the Soviets, and the war soon became a stalemate.

The Soviets tried to defeat the mujahideen by using brutal tactics, such as bombing villages and using chemical weapons. However, the mujahideen were able to withstand these tactics and continued to fight. The war dragged on for years, and the Soviets eventually became bogged down in Afghanistan.

Consequences of the War

The Soviet-Afghan War had a number of consequences, including:

The death of over 1 million Afghans.
The displacement of over 6 million Afghans.
The destruction of much of Afghanistan's infrastructure.
The rise of the Taliban, a group of Islamic extremists who took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s.

The Soviet-Afghan War was a major conflict of the Cold War. The war had a number of consequences, including the death of over 1 million Afghans, the displacement of over 6 million Afghans, and the destruction of much of Afghanistan's infrastructure. The war also led to the rise of the Taliban, a group of Islamic extremists who took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s.